In June 2012, more than 4,200 ornate beacons were lit, celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. Among the flaming bonfires and medieval-style braziers was a massive beacon known as The Bagillt Dragon. Cut from rusted steel, the fire-breathing beast stands 33 feet tall with a wingspan of nearly 50 feet. 

The dragon was designed by Peter Carlyle and built by his son James Carlyle. The stone plinth it sits on was made by Paul ‘Tyn Chwart’ Evans. The project was funded by the Flintshire County Council’s Countryside Services and several local community groups.

Today, the dragon still stands, guarding its buried treasure. A time capsule lies beneath the stone plinth, containing photos, poems, and stories from the residents and children of Bagillt.