A red dragon is set to take its rightful place in the heart of Welsh democracy this St David’s Day.
On March 1, a red Welsh duelling dragon, hewn at Poplar’s Forge, Flintshire, will take pride of place in the Senedd.
For Buckley-based blacksmith and sculptor Steven Gillard it is a dream come true. Having set up Poplars Forge Dragon Sculptures with his business partner Stuart Wilson, he is steering his business away from general metal work to focus purely on crafting dragons.
Each one is unique in appearance, with an individual name, certificate and identity mark. Steven said: “Ever since we set up the dragon side of the business I have hoped to get one into the Welsh Assembly building, I feel like my Welsh dragon is going home.”
Steven’s dream has been realised thanks to the help of Welsh Assembly Member Mark Isherwood. The Shadow Minister for Communities and Housing offered the Poplar’s Forge team an opportunity to meet with Assembly staff.
Mr Isherwood said: “I am delighted that our meeting with Assembly staff last month has borne fruit. It is wonderful that Poplar’s Forge are creating unique hand-made dragon statues in Flintshire – and even better that one of their rampant Welsh dragons will be on display in the Senedd, home of the National Assembly for Wales, for St David’s Day. The missing piece will have been added.”
The Welsh Red’s appearance at the Senedd isn’t the only dragon visitation set to take place in Wales. North Waliens will soon find a dueling Welsh dragon protecting the soil of Eagles Meadow roundabout in Wrexham, this spring.
Poplar’s Forge dragons are also flying far and wide, with a recent piece delivered to Baroness Hale of Richmond, Justice of the Supreme Court and the UK’s most senior female judge. A dragon also recently appeared on the BBC programme DIY SOS The Big Build, after Poplar’s Forge donated a dragon to eight-year-old Erica Williams of Dolgarrog.
Steven said: “It is wonderful when people admire the dragons and commission a piece. It gives us the opportunity to work with the client and create something unique to their specifications.”
Steven and Stuart are about to start work on three commissioned dragons as well as a project with Wrexham-based sculptor Simon O’Rourke. The latter will see the pair creating one of their extraordinary dragons to duel with a life-sized lion created by the famous wood sculptor.
While the order book is filling up and having achieved his ambition of seeing a red Welsh dragon in the Senedd, Steven has a new ambition – to see a Poplar’s Forge sculpture take up residence in that other seat of Welsh passion.
“I have to say I would love to see a dragon at the Millennium Stadium,” he said. “The dragons are all born of fire and passion, and each one is a fighter, I think they sum up the spirit of Welsh rugby very well!”
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