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The iconic Sleeping Dragon left us on the 11th November 2018. Over the 4 years representing the 35,000 lost Welshmen from WW1, he created a strong community feel on the roundabout spanning history and creating bonds between the people who live in Presteigne now and the sacrifice made by those who lived here then in a unique and stirring way. He totally fulfilled his role. Now backed by a groundswell of demand we have a fully costed and planned opportunity to bring back our Dragon to his proper place and regain the focus for the emotions invoked by his presence – and to achieve this we need a modest sum to create and maintain The Dragon for the community of Presteigne and beyond. Read more below about the history, construction and sheer energy of those involved.

The Sleeping dragon had to leave the site he had occupied since 3/8/2014 on 11/11/2018 as part of the interactive element of the piece designed to provoke a real sense of loss, an emotion endured by millions in those war years. Over the four years he had sat there he was slowly imbedding himself into peoples’ minds and becoming part of their environment. How deeply this feeling of loss penetrated the soul is evident in that 4 years on from 11/11/2018 Pete is still pestered for the Dragons return.

On 11/11 his role changed from a simple memorial to now represent those coming home from the war with all the pageantry and joy of returning loved ones one might expect. All the little wooden crosses placed in front of the dragon by people remembering specific relatives in the run up to 11/11/2018 would now represent those fallen and left behind. The dragon was gone but the crosses remained and as people realised the Dragon was gone, not coming back, no longer in their lives but was now just a fond memory embodied in a scattering of little wooden crosses, each one representing a lost reality, the truth of the loss hit home.

The sense of loss this invoked was quite a jolt to many and the sense of loss prevails to this day. To some it is what it represents, others have their own ideas and interpretations. Whatever the Sleeping Dragon represents and to whom, one common thread bonds them all together, they love the Sleeping Dragon and they want him back.

What’s involved?

A labour force of about 6 will strip the existing covering off back to the steel armature. The armature will be sandblasted and galvanised. New galvanised rabbit wire will be stretched to fit the armature using about 3000 zip ties. The resin team then take over to bond a thin skin to the rabbit wires and build up the shapes with further coats of heavier glass matting.

After a couple of weeks curing right through, it will be painted with marine paint and then the finished Dragon will return to site and be fixed down to a secure flagstone foundation. The budget includes a small sum for ongoing maintenance to secure longevity. The Sleeping Dragon is expected to reappear on site early in the summer of 2023.

How will this happen?

A small enthusiastic team will support Pete Smith, the artist and creative talent to gain the support of local Companies, Media and Community to send the message that the Dragon is returning, all we need is a little funding.