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| Virtual Burley Dragon's den |
"Burley is notable in English folklore for being the supposed location of a
dragon's lair at Burley Beacon, just outside the village.
[18]
There are several local version of the tale. In one version, the creature "flew" every morning to
Bisterne, about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Burley, where it would be supplied with
milk.
[18] In order to kill the dragon, a valiant man built himself a hut at Bisterne, and with two dogs lay in wait.
[18] The creature came as usual one morning for its milk, and when the hut door was opened the dogs attacked it, and while thus engaged, the dragon was killed by the man.
[18] The dragon slayer himself, says another version of the tale, only succeeded by covering his armour with glass.
[18]
The documentary version of this tradition is contained in the margin of a pedigree roll written prior to 1618, and preserved at
Berkeley Castle. It actually names the dragon-slayer as Sir Maurice Berkeley, lord of the manor of Bisterne in the 15th century.
[19] The document describes the dragon as "doing much mischief upon men and cattle ... making his den near unto a Beacon."
[19] Sir Maurice Berkeley killed the dragon but died himself soon afterwards.
[19] "- Quote from Wikipedia
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