MYTHICAL statues were unveiled at two South Wales stations last week as Great Western Railway invites families to discover the landscapes behind the legends across our region.
Visitors to Cardiff Central can learn about the legend of the Red Dragon and how it became the eternal protector of Wales, while passengers passing by an enchanting faery at Swansea station can discover all about The Faeries of Pennard Castle in The Gower.
Both tales are retold in GWR’s new collection of myths and legends, The Line to Legend Land, as the train operator encourages families to set off on their own adventures to discover the spirit of stories cherished for generations.
Updated from the first version published more than a century ago, The Line to Legend Land features 11 legends from across the South West and Wales.
It includes an introduction and brand-new legend from former Children’s Laureate and War Horse author, Sir Michael Morpurgo, and is designed to introduce the stories to a new generation.
Helping to show off the new statue at Cardiff Central was Helen Fulton, a professor at the University of Bristol who specialises in Welsh literature and its connections with the literatures of medieval England and Ireland.
Helen, pictured above with TfW colleagues Wesley Goodchap and Victoria Bond, said: “The Red Dragon has been a symbol of Wales and Welsh nationhood since the ninth century.
“It has played a special part in our history, giving us an identity and sense of nationhood over the centuries.
“This statue reminds us of the fascinating history of the Red Dragon among poets and storytellers of Wales since the Middle Ages.”
GWR Head of External Communications, Dan Panes, said: “The Red Dragon and The Faeries of Pennard Castle are just two of the many captivating stories across the region we serve, and by taking these statues out to some of our most popular destinations, we’re aiming to inspire families to venture out on the train and discover the legends for themselves.
“We’ve been thrilled by the reaction to our new Line to Legend Land book and our goal was to create a truly immersive world where these myths step out of the stories and onto our stations, bringing the legends to life for everyone who travels with us.”
The Line to Legend Land campaign supports Farms for City Children – founded by Sir Michael and Lady Clare Morpurgo – which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Over that time, it has provided children and young people with life-changing opportunities to live, learn and thrive on working farms in Devon, Gloucestershire and Pembrokeshire and experience the very countryside where many of the myths and legends were born.
GWR has also donated copies of The Line to Legend Land to 500 primary schools across its network, ensure the stories that surround the lands they live in are kept alive for years to come.
As well as the Red Dragon at Cardiff Central and The Faeries of Pennard Castle at Swansea, other statues unveiled include the Mermaid of Zennor at St Ives, Excalibur at Castle Cary, and the Giants of Avon Gorge at Bristol Temple Meads.
The Line To Legend Land book is available to buy from the GWR Gift Shop page or as a free PDF download by clicking here (GWR.com/legends).
