Dragon Boundary Marks for the City of London

One of the silver dragons that adorns Holborn Viaduct.

Anyone that has walked into the Square Mile along one of its main thoroughfares, will have passed by one of the fourteen silver dragons that mark the boundary to the City of London. 

The coat of arms of the City of London has two dragons supporting a shield that bears a flag of St George, with a sword in its top left corner. Atop the shield is a knight's helmet and plume, while the motto "Domine dirige nos (Lord guide us)" runs in a ribbon across the bottom. The sword, with its tip pointed upward, symbolises the martyrdom of St Paul, the patron saint of London.

One of the original dragons from the London Coal Exchange.

The City's first silver dragons adorned the London Coal Exchange building, which was situated almost opposite the Old Billingsgate Market. Then, in 1962, the Coal Exchange was demolished due to damage from World War II and the need to widen the road. However, the two 7 feet (2.1 metres) cast iron dragons, that had stood above the entrance on a parapet, were saved. Once they had been cleaned, repaired and painted they were mounted on Portland Stone plinths that are 6 feet (1.8 metres) in height and erected on Victoria Embankment, in October 1963.

Eleven more dragons, which are half-size replicas of these, were then erected at various points around the City of London boundary, during the late 1960s.

Dragon Quest.

To discover the Square Mile's protectors you can go on a 'Dragon Quest', which will take you around the boundary of the City of London, seeing some amazing architecture, visiting interesting places, see ruins and much more.

Temple Bar Memorial, with a fierce looking dragon.

Starting at Victoria Embankment, near Middle Temple Gardens, head north to where Strand meets Fleet Street. Here you will find a unique guardian to the City of London. Stood atop the Temple Bar Memorial is a fierce looking dragon, raised on its hind legs. This dragon, designed by C.  B. Birch, was cast in 1880 to commemorate Sir Christopher Wren's Temple Bar, which stood on this site, before it was moved to Paternoster Square.

Continue north until you reach the junction of Chancery Lane, Holborn and Grays Inn Road, where you will find the first two replica dragons. These dragons are mounted on 19th century granite obelisks, which once supported lanterns. These obelisks were Grade II listed, in 1972.

Continue east, along Holborn, until you reach Charterhouse Street. Continue along Charterhouse Street until you get to the junction with Farringdon Street, where you will find the third replica dragon. Like the rest of the replica dragons, on the route, these sit atop black elliptic cylinder of iron.

Continue along Charterhouse Street and then onto Carthusian Street, before heading north along Aldersgate Street and Goswell Road. Here you will find the fourth replica dragon, at the junction of Goswell Road and Baltic Street West.

Follow Baltic Street West until you find yourself on Golden Lane, which you follow south until you reach Fortune Street Park, which you walk through to reach Whitecross Street. Continue south until you reach Chiswell Street, which will lead you east to Moor Lane. Turn south down Moor Lane until you reach Ropemaker Street, which will take you in a southeasterly direction. At the junction of Ropemaker Street and Moorgate you will find the fifth replica dragon.

Continue along South Place, before heading north along Wilson Street to Sun Street. Sun Street will guide you east to Appold Street, which will take you north to Worship Street. Head east along Worship Street and you will find the sixth replica dragon on the corner with Norton Folgate.

Middlesex Street Dragon Boundary Mark.

Head south until you reach Brushfield Street, which will take you east. Turn south on Fort Street and cross Artillery Lane onto Sandy's Row. Sandy's Row will lead you onto Middlesex Street, where you will find the seventh replica dragon on the corner with Aldgate High Street.

From here you continue south along Mansell Street until you reach  Shorter Street, which will lead you west onto Tower Hill. You will find the eighth replica dragon where Tower Hill meets Byward Street.

From here head south, along Petty Wales, until you reach the River Thames, where you simply walk westward to London Bridge. On reaching London Bridge head to its southern entrance where you will find the ninth and tenth replica dragons.

Now, you simply continue along the south bank to Blackfriars Bridge, where the eleventh replica dragon can be found. Then, head north over Blackfriars Bridge before turning westward on the Victoria Embankment, where you will reach your starting point.

A dragon on Holborn Viaduct.

There are also some dragons to be found on Holborn Viaduct, which is quite something to behold. This Victorian bridge is typical of the era, with its colour, ornateness and style. In the centre of the viaduct, above Farringdon Street, you will see a highly detailed and ornate coat of arms of the City of London. Although best viewed from Farringdon Street, Holborn Viaduct does allow you to get closer to the dragons and other features.

The two original London Coal Exchange dragons were Grade II listed in 1972.