The most popular page on my website, the Dragon Sanctuary, is the one about the City of London Boundary Dragons, so I thought it was time there was a post about them.
Before we start, it is important to remember that the City of London and London the capital city of the UK are not quite the same thing, although geographically they occupy the same place. London has two cities within it, the City of Westminster and the City of London. Often just called “The City” or “The Square Mile” the City of London is mainly the original Roman walled city, plus a bit extra as the city expanded over the centuries. It is administered by the Corporation of London and has its own police force which is a separate authority independent of the Metropolitan Police who are responsible for the rest of London.
The boundaries of the City of London are marked by short black posts each carrying the City’s coat of arms. But at ten locations around the City the boundary is marked by a silver dragon holding the crest of the City. How this came about is an interesting story.
It starts with two large dragon sculptures that were at the entrance to the Coal Exchange building in Lower Thames Street that was built in 1849 to replace an earlier building. When this building was demolished in 1963 the two dragons were saved and placed on plinths on either side of the Victoria Embankment to mark the boundary between the City of London and the City of Westminster.
In 1964 the Corporation of London’s Streets Committee decided that other boundaries of the City of London would be marked with statues of dragons and the dragons from the 1849 Coal Exchange were chosen as the model for the statues. There was another candidate to be the model for the dragons and this is the one that can be seen at Temple Bar, he marks another boundary between the City of London and the City of Westminster, this dragon is a totally different breed and looks much more fierce.
A point to remember is that as guardians or gatekeepers of the City all the dragons face outwards, so if the dragon is looking at you, you’re outside the City, if he has his back to you, you’re inside the City.
Curiously, at London Bridge and Holbon there are two dragons, all the other locations, except the Embankment where the originals live, have only one.
But why dragons? Since the 17th century the City of London crest has been supported by a pair of dragons, in heraldry having animals (real or mythical) as supporters for a crest is quite common. One theory for the choice of dragons for the City is that the since the 14th century the City of London has used St.George’s cross as an emblem and a dragon is part of the legend of St.George so the dragon was the obvious choice for a supporter.
In 2009 I went on a Dragon Search and visited each of the ten locations to photograph the dragons. You can see the pictures here.
Read my latest blog post here.
Hi, do you know where I can find a map showing where exactly each of the dragons are situated?
Hi Tony. If you Google for “city of london dragons map” you’ll find a map of London with all the locations marked on it. It should be the first entry, or near the top, in the results list. It’s the map I used when I went out to photograph them all.
Tthank you Peter, this story of london dragons is very interesting.I have only seen unfortunately that of the London Bridge during a course stay.
Yannick
Hi Yannick. Thanks for your kind comment. I used to work in London and passed a couple of the dragons regularly, so one day I took some leave and went out and spent the whole day traveling round London visiting and photographing all the dragons.
Sincerely I want you to keep a site as interesting and varied as yours, which represents a big job. I only have a small family site with holiday albums: you, it’s history with a big H that you can see us.History of trains, planes …etc , I come from time to time on your site and I always find splendid things: one word only: thank you
Hello . On the inside of one of the shields the dragons are holding it has the name ‘ Dewar ‘ inscribed on it . Do you know why as its a good friends surname ?.
Hi Ian. Sorry, I’ve no idea why the name Dewar is on the shield.
The dragons designed by the City Architect, J. B. Bunning, and made by London foundry, Dewer, in 1849.
From https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2019/10/08/mapped-the-dragons-that-surround-london/
Hi Lee.
Thanks for that information.
There is also a dragon at Tower Hill / Trinity Hill which you haven’t mentioned. it is omitted from maps too…. I have now bagged them all including the Tower Hill one. Photo can be supplied
Thanks for that information. I must try and find that one next time I’m in London.
Hi it’s at the road crossing by All Hallows’ by the Tower church, should see it on google street view
Hi Ron. Yes, I found the missing dragon on Google street view. He’s now on my list to visit next time I’m in town.
I found this site after a friend of mine posted a Facebook image of her posing by two stone dragon heads lying on a lawn, which she said are called Gog and Magog and that they used to be part of the London Bridge? Then I tried to track this down but didn’t see any other reference to this on the internet? Was her information wrong? I can send you an image of the dragon heads if you reply.
There are two dragons at London Bridge, but I don’t think any of the London boundry dragons have names. Gog and Magog are two giants who are the traditional guardians of the City of London and their effigies are carried in the procession of the Lord Mayor’s Show. So I’ve no idea what two dragons your friend was photographed by.