Welcome to The Dragon's Lair Glasfryn, in the old, mid Wales mining village of Ponterwyd, is just a small traditional Welsh house that holds the secret of the real Welsh Dragon. A seventy million year old fragment of Palaeolithic rock, found on the shores of the nearby Nant-y-Moch reservoir, reveals the imprint of the wingtip of a small, long dead, flying reptile – Rhamphorynchus. This little dinosaur, who once soared between the mountains and across the valleys of Plynlimon would appear to be the true origin of the fabulous and magical Y Ddraig Goch – the Red Dragon of Wales. My name is Angela, and I love Dragons! I sculpt, paint, and write about Dragons – and I never tire of talking about Dragons! I am well known more as ‘The Dragon Lady’, custodian of the mysterious fossil and responsible for the intriguing ‘Nanty’ Dragon, a stone cast link between the mythical Welsh Dragon and its real life Jurassic ancestor.

The Origin

	The Dragon's wing fossil

Newly exposed by receding waters the oddly shaped chunk of sedimentary rock had split apart to reveal what appeared to be a scrap of fossilised material. On first impression, the imprint appeared to be that of a leaf or similar vegetation, but with unrecognisable and unusual features. Closer examination of the rock, showed that what was initially thought to be vegetable material, now appeared to be that of animal origin. Imbedded in the millennium aged rock, a small scrap of skeletal reptilian wing was revealed.

Imagine, a tiny fragment of membranous wing, the like of which had not been seen for, maybe, a hundred million years! Could this once living, breathing creature have been the origin of the fabulous Red Dragon of mythology? Certainly Rhamphorynchus was a winged reptile, a 'dragon' if you will, and this one was most definitely native to mid Wales. Undoubtedly a real Welsh 'dragon'!

Careful measurements of the fossilised scrap gave a pretty good idea of the approximate size of the creature and from drawings, an impression emerged of what this dainty dinosaur may have looked like. The similarity between the once living flying reptile and the legendary Red Dragon of Wales as depicted on our Standard, is quite remarkable.

Inspired by this, and using the fossil wingtip as a guide, I sculpted from clay, a 'dragon' which would have been roughly the exact size of the real life dinosaur. Moulded in latex and finally cast in stone, the 'Nanty' Dragon, named for Nant-y-Moch, emerged as a recognisable representative of the real Red Dragon of Wales. Painted in Welsh colours of bright red, white and green, and inscribed around the base the legend " Y Ddraig Goch Ddyry Cychwyn - The Red Dragon Will Lead The Way" the battle cry of our proud Nation, Nanty Dragons now sit outside 'The Dragon's Lair' in Ponterwyd, to guard and protect home and family according to belief.

The Dragons

'Little Nanty'

The family of Nanty Dragons has grown over the past few years and now we have 'Nanty Fach - Little Nanty' - a diminutive version of the original Nanty; 'Nanty Cysglid' or 'Sleepy Nanty' a gentle, sleeping Dragon who curls up with 'Nanty Babi', an infant replica of herself. Miniature versions of both Dragons, tiny enough to fit into a pocket, complete the clan!

Over time, they have been joined by 'The Glyndwr Dragon' inspired by one of my paintings - a fierce beast ready to defend 'til death! Perhaps the most dramatic Nanty Dragon is 'Big Nanty' a giant version, who sits on his own 'throne' outside 'Glasfryn' and invites all to -

"Touch my Crown and make a Wish But Secret, keep Your Thought; For if You Tell - And Break the Spell- Your Wish shall come to Nought"

This inscription was translated into English and is inscribed on the front of Nanty's 'throne'. Legend has it, that if you make a wish on a Dragon, and never disclose it, your wish can come true; but if you tell of your wish, it may turn against you with dire consequences!

Another ancient Spell, again roughly translated, warns that - If Thee Takes a Dragon By Foul Means or Force - On Thy Head Will Fall The Dragon's Curse! Dragons do possess 'magic' - they always have done and the Nanty Dragons are no exception. Over the years, many visitors to 'Glasfryn' have remarked on strange and unexplained results. 'Nanty Fach' is also known as 'Yr Iachawr - The Healer' and it is said, that to touch Little Nanty and ask Yr Iachawr to "take the trouble" into his "keeping" - has, in some cases appeared to have achieved the desired result! Sleepy Nanty seems to have a calming effect on people and it is thought that a 'sleeping' Dragon ensures sweet Dreams!

All of these myths and beliefs stem from a time that is beyond memory, a time when we all believed in Magic - and maybe, just maybe, it all still exists! Dragons have lived in our imagination and in legends across the World. In China, it is said, "every Mountain has a Dragon" - and Y Ddraig Goch belongs to Plynlimon!, Welsh legend believes that The Red Dragon will rise, when called, to defend those in need and this is chronicled in a 1400 year old ballad or poem and loosely translated foretells:

Perhaps this is the secret magic of Y Ddraig Goch.