The lion with the metal tail

I drive past this proud creature every day and thought it was to commemorate something important but have only just found out why he is there.

"Travelling from Devizes to Upavon on the A342 one encounters a monument on the slopes of Etchilhampton Hill where a minor road turns off towards the village. It commemorates James Long, of Urchfont, who in 1768 promoted a new road from Nursteed, in Devizes, to Lydeway, in Urchfont. The gradient on the existing road, turnpiked under the first Wiltshire Turnpike Act in 1707 for the Devizes to Upavon Road, had proved too steep, being on the higher slopes of Etchilhampton Hill. The road of 1768 remains as part of the main road in use today.

It is pleasant to feel that we still remember this road improver who bettered the lot of straining horses and oxen and the men who drove them. One cannot see the promoter of a new motorway being so remembered but then new 18th century roads caused little damage to the countryside, compared with those of the late 20th century. When passing the monument take a look at the stone lion on the top; he has an iron tail. It is said that the lion goes to drink when he hears the clock of St James's church in Devizes strike midnight. At that time when all God-fearing folk were abed he would walk to a farm pond at Stert, quench his thirst and walk back to the monument. Many times over the years has this tale been told by village men as they climbed the hill, when returning to Etchilhampton from the inns of Devizes after closing time. The origin of the belief probably owes much to the potency of the ales brewed by Wadworth's in Devizes and, sad to say, it is unlikely that the striking of the church clock could be heard from Etchilhampton Hill. Although of course lions, being wild animals, will have a much keener sense of hearing than humans. " - Taken from www.visitoruk.com/devizes/

I find it fascinating that such a prominent marker be given to mark a new road just because the other way deemed too steep!

I'm not sure he frequents the local Inns any more but he is quite partial to fancy dress now and then and has donned a red nose and a cape in the past!