Waking the Dragon
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Waking_the_Dragon_%284400479103%29.jpg/220px-Waking_the_Dragon_%284400479103%29.jpg)
Waking the Dragon (Welsh: Deffro'r Ddraig) is a proposed bronze sculpture which is intended to be built near Wrexham, North Wales.
The original idea, made in 2010, was for a sculpture which would stand 210 feet (64 m) tall, symbolising the heritage and culture of the Welsh people. The project was to be funded through a combination of charitable donations, the purchase of steps within the tower and investor finance.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Waking_the_Dragon_%284400479107%29.jpg/220px-Waking_the_Dragon_%284400479107%29.jpg)
The project was to consist of a 75-foot bronze dragon with a wingspan of approximately 150 feet, standing upon a 135-foot glass and steel tower, which would allow for panoramic views of Wrexham, its surrounding countryside and across the border into England.[1] The project intended to include a 100-seat café/bar, a 125-seat restaurant, an art centre and a gallery next to the tower. The space immediately around the tower was to be used to depict the Four Branches of the Mabinogion, the collection of mythological tales of early Wales.[2]
It was originally intended to sit adjacent to the A5 and was hoped to be completed by August 2011. It was subsequently hoped to be completed by the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London.
In 2013 local businessman Simon Wingett, the originator of the scheme, launched a crowd funding initiative to raise money for the project. The dragon was to be sited on a roundabout at Chirk near Wrexham.[2] Planning permission for the dragon was reinstated in 2016 for a further five years, after the original permission had lapsed.[3] In September 2022, Wingett was ordered by the High Court to pay at least £117,000 to charitable cancer causes due to investing his cancer charity donations for the dragon project rather than to charitable causes since 2011.[4]
If completed, it would be the world's second largest statue of a European dragon, after the dragon from Pegasus and Dragon in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
See also
References
- ^ "Leader readers: Waking The Dragon tower would benefit Wrexham", The Leader (Wrexham & Flintshire), 2 March 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Roaring Chirk dragon project given new lease of life", The Leader (Wrexham & Flintshire), 23 September 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ Daniel Heald (14 April 2016) "Roaring Chirk dragon project given new lease of life", New North Wales. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ "Cancer charity boss put donations into Welsh dragon plan". BBC News. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
External links
- http://thewelshdragon.co.uk/
- v
- t
- e
- Chirk
- Wrexham (Built-up area)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Wales_Wrexham_locator_map.svg/150px-Wales_Wrexham_locator_map.svg.png)
- Abenbury
- Acton
- Bangor-on-Dee
- Bronington
- Broughton
- Brymbo
- Caia Park
- Cefn
- Ceiriog Ucha
- Chirk
- Coedpoeth
- Erbistock
- Esclusham
- Glyntraian
- Gresford
- Gwersyllt
- Hanmer
- Holt
- Isycoed
- Llangollen Rural
- Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog
- Llay
- Maelor South
- Marchwiel
- Minera
- Offa
- Overton
- Pen-y-cae
- Rhosddu
- Rhosllanerchrugog
- Rossett
- Ruabon
- Sesswick
- Willington Worthenbury
- Aberoer
- Acrefair
- Arowry
- Bersham
- Bettisfield
- Borras
- Borras Park
- Bowling Bank
- Bradley
- Bryn Offa
- Brynteg
- Burton
- Bwlchgwyn
- Caego
- Cefn Mawr
- Ceiriog Valley
- Chapel Street
- Charles Street
- Chester Street
- College Street
- Cross Lanes
- Fairy Road
- Froncysyllte
- Garden Village
- Grosvenor Road
- Grove Road
- Glyn Ceiriog
- Gwynfryn
- Halghton
- Hightown
- Horseman's Green
- Island Green
- Johnstown
- Knolton
- Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog
- Llan-y-pwll
- Llwyneinion
- Llwynmawr
- Maelor
- Maelor Saesneg
- Marford
- Moss
- Newbridge
- New Brighton
- New Broughton
- Pandy (Ceiriog)
- Pandy (Gwersyllt)
- Pant
- Penley
- Pentre Broughton
- Pentre Bychan
- Pentre Maelor
- Plas Coch
- Plas Madoc
- Ponciau
- Pontfadog
- Queen's Square
- Rhosnesni
- Rhosrobin
- Rhostyllen
- Rhosymedre
- Ridleywood
- Salisbury Park/Road
- Southsea
- Stansty
- Summerhill
- Sydallt
- Tanyfron
- Temple Row
- Tregeiriog
- Trevor
- Tybroughton
- Wrexham Industrial Estate
- Wrexham City Centre
- Whitewell
- 2 Grosvenor Road
- Abbotsfield
- All Saints' Church, Gresford
- Bangor-on-Dee Bridge
- Bangor-on-Dee racecourse
- Bersham Ironworks
- Bridge End Inn
- Brynkinalt Hall
- Butchers' Market
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Sorrows
- Cefn Viaduct
- Central Arcade
- Chirk Aqueduct
- Chirk Viaduct
- Chirk War Memorial
- County Buildings
- Croesnewydd Hall
- Eagles Meadow
- Elephant and Castle
- Erddig
- Feathers Hotel
- The Gelli
- Hightown Barracks
- HM Prison Berwyn
- Horse and Jockey
- Holt Bridge
- General Market
- Gresford Methodist Church
- Grosvenor Lodge
- Grove Park School
- Iscoyd Park
- Marchwiel Hall
- Nags Head (Wrexham)
- Offa's Dyke (part)
- Old Carnegie Library
- Old Wrexham Infirmary
- Overton Arcade
- Pant-yr-Ochain
- Pen-y-Lan Hall
- Pont Cysyllte
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
- Poyser Street drill hall
- Rossett Presbyterian Chapel
- Racecourse Ground
- Rossett Hall
- Saith Seren
- Soames Brewery Chimney
- St David's Welsh Church (Rhosllanerchrugog)
- St Giles' Church
- The Midland
- Talbot Hotel
- Trevalyn Hall
- Trinity Presbyterian Church
- Tudor Court
- Turf Hotel
- Tŷ Pawb
- Wat's Dyke (part)
- Waking the Dragon (proposed)
- War Memorial Hospital
- Waterworld
- Wrexham bus station
- Wrexham Cemetery
- Wrexham Lager Brewery
- Wrexham Library
- Wrexham Guildhall
- Wrexham Maelor Hospital
- Wrexham Police Station (1973–2020)
- Wynn Hall
- Wynnstay
- Wynnstay Arms (Ruabon)
- Wynnstay Arms (Wrexham)
- Xplore!
Castles |
|
---|
Rivers | |
---|---|
Reservoirs and lakes |
|
- Wrexham bus station
- A5 road
- A483 road
- A525 road
- A528 road
- A541 road
- B5101 road
- Chester and Wrexham Turnpike (former)
- Llangollen Canal
- Trevor Basin
- Wrexham & Shropshire (former)
- North Wales Metro (part)
Railway lines | |
---|---|
Former lines |
|
Railway stations |
- Calon FM
- Capital North West and North Wales
- Heart North Wales
- Capital Cymru (some broadcasts)
- Smooth Wales (some broadcasts)
- MuxCo (radio operator)
- Wrexham-Rhos transmitting station
- Marcher Radio Group (former)
- BBC Cymru Wales (local studios)
- The Leader newspaper
- Wales Comic Con (2008–2019; 2022)
- Focus Wales
- Parliamentary constituencies
- Schools
- City parks and open spaces
- Council elections
- SSSIs
- Country houses
- Listed buildings
- Scheduled monuments
- Listed parks and gardens
- History
- Former RAF Wrexham
- Lord Lieutenants
- High Sheriffs
- Mayor
- Museums
- Wrexham Library
- Wrexham Guildhall
- Public art
- Wrexham Art School
- Wrexham A.F.C.
- Wrexham RFC
- Preserved county of Clwyd
- Historic counties of Denbighshire and Flintshire
52°56′21″N 3°02′43″W / 52.9393°N 3.0453°W / 52.9393; -3.0453