Dragon Reports from the Paranormal Database

A surprising number of dragon legends exist all over the UK and Ireland. While a large number do not match the traditional 'fire-breathing' archetype, almost all had some form of lethal defence, and could only be defeated by wit or absolute determination. Below is a list of known or rumoured dragon haunts.

Image (left) courtesy of: www.royalmail.com/creatures

Bishop Jocelyn's Wyrm

Location: Wells (Somerset) - Area around the cathedral
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Bishop Jocelyn drove away a dragon that had been terrorising locals around seven holy springs - the cathedral was later built in the area.

The Devil's Mount

Location: Wievliscombe (Somerset) - Area around the church
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: 1827?
Further Comments: When the church in Wievliscombe was being rebuilt, the devil manifested riding a green dragon and began hurling rocks at the construction. Saint Andrew materialised and used a crucifix to drive both Devil and dragon away.

Guardian

Location: Clevedon (Somerset) - Area between Dolebury Hill (near Clevedon) and Cadbury Camp
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A dragon was (is still?) reported to guard a secret stash to treasure concealed somewhere in this area.

Dragon Death

Location: Sockburn (Yorkshire) - Area marked by the Greystone
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Sir John Conyers killed this worm by stabbing it under a wing, marking the spot with a stone and donating the used sword to Durham Cathedral.

Wormstall

Location: Churchstanton (Somerset) - Area where Stapley Farm now stands
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The dragon which took up residence in this area was killed by a knight; the lashing of the dying dragon’s tail is said to have carved out a hollow in a field known as Wormstall.

Skeleton

Location: Walmsgate (Lincolnshire) - Barrow
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A long barrow located here is said to contain the bones of a dragon killed in the area.

Imprints

Location: Bignor (Sussex) - Bignor hill
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A large snake-like creature wrapped itself around Bignor hill and squeezed so tightly that it left imprints of its coils.

Dragon Slaying

Location: Wormingford (Essex) - Bloody Meadow
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Fifteenth century
Further Comments: The local church gives the account of how a local dragon that was immune to arrows was put to death in a nearby field by Sir George de la Haye. A virtually identical tale exists from nearby Bures.

Fire Breathers

Location: Challacombe (Devon) - Bronze Age burial mounds in the area
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Breathing fire as they travelled, the dragons in this region are said to have an interest in Bronze Age burial mounds scattered around the region.

Curse

Location: Taunton (Somerset) - Castle Neroche
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Treasure believed (by some) to be concealed in the area around the Iron Age hillfort has yet to be fully discovered - death and serious accidents have befallen all those to have tried. Another legend says that the treasure is protected by a dragon.

Slain Beast

Location: Trull (Somerset) - Castleman’s hill
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Little is known about the dragon said to have been killed in this area.

Winged Serpent

Location: Cawthorne (Yorkshire) - Cawthorn Park region
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A winged serpent dwelt in Serpent’s Well and would between the area and Cawthorn Park.

Dragon of Aller

Location: Low Ham (Somerset) - Church
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The church is home to a spear that was used to kill a local dragon which lived in Athelney Fens - the creature snacked on the local livestock until a local hero bore arms against the beast.

Goraidh Crobhan

Location: Islay (Argyll and Bute) - Dragon den close to Ballygrant
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Crobhan killed the dragon that had levelled most of the island by having the beast chase him while he travelled with three horses. The hero ensured that the dragon ate the three horses during the pursuit, resulting in the dragon slowing down and tiring. Still being chased, Crobhan leapt across a series of barrels in which he had earlier hammered iron stakes - the dragon failed the jump, impaling itself on the stakes, ensuring Crobhan had an easy kill.

Duel

Location: Bisterne (Hampshire) - Dragon Fields
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The area was held to ransom by a fire breather who demanded a pail of milk once a day. The knight who engaged the dragon in battle barely made it out of the conflict with his life, and though the dragon lay slain, the victor died shortly after.

Spilt Blood

Location: Uffington (Oxfordshire) - Dragon Hill
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Parts of this hill are bare and chalky - some legends say that a dragon was slain on top of the hill, and where the beast's blood fell, the grass died.

Dragon Stone

Location: Anwick (Lincolnshire) - Drake Stone, currently in the churchyard
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: 1651, stone still present
Further Comments: A farmer watched in horror as his horses and plough were sucked underground in the middle of a field - a few seconds later a large dragon emerged and few off. The stone that remains today is said to cover the dragon's treasure. Some believe the dragon was in fact Satan.

Drake's Home

Location: Wolverley (Hereford & Worcester) - Drakelow, adjacent to an SSSI woodland called Kinver Edge
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: 1582
Further Comments: An ancient document gives reference to this place has being home to a dragon.

Sleeping Dragon

Location: Shrewsbury (Shropshire) - Earl's Hill and Pontesford Hill
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Some locals say that the two hills are actually a sleeping dragon. Another legend connected with the area says that either the king of Mercia or the king of Wessex lost a gold arrow here in the seventh century, and it can only be found by a seventh daughter of a seventh son.

Great Worm

Location: East Horndon (Essex) - East Horndon churchyard
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This dragon was discovered hiding amongst the tombs of the churchyard; it was finally slain by Sir James Tyrell. Some reports say the dragon actually lived in the nearby woods.

Well Monster

Location: Strathmartin (Angus) - Exact area not known
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A dragon which guarded a well managed to eat nine maidens who came one by one to draw water. It was finally slain by a man named Martin who was to be married to the youngest girl.

Multi-eyed Cockatrice

Location: Castle Gwys (Dyfed) - Exact area not known
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The body of this cockatrice was covered with eyes, and it was said that the estates of Winston belonged to anyone who could see the creature before it could see them. One man managed to win the lands by hiding in a barrel which rolled into the monster's lair.

Dragon Slayer

Location: Aller, Curry Rivel (Somerset) - Exact area unknown
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The village is named after a local hero who slew a dragon, but died as the beast released a final breath of flame. In another version of the tale, John survives and finds a brood of hatchlings in the dragon’s cave, which is subsequently blocked up.

Dragon Slaying

Location: Bures (Suffolk) - Exact location not known
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Fifteenth century
Further Comments: The local church gives the account of how a local dragon that was immune to arrows was finally chased into the marshes where it vanished. A virtually identical tale exists from nearby Wormingford.

Hording Lizard

Location: Bilsdale (Yorkshire) - Exact location not known
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A dragon was said to reside in a tumulus, protecting its hoard.