Our story
The Dragon Sanctuary was founded in 1822 by siblings Laurence and Ada Haste
On the 23rd of April 1822, Laurence and Ada Haste were out walking with their dog, Spruce, in the hills. Spruce ran off barking urgently, and when they followed him, they found a cave in the hillside and inside a coruscating slash of light: the Fracture. Spruce was still barking in the back of the cave. When they made their way carefully around the Fracture and to the back of the cave, they found Spruce nuzzling and unconscious Marsh Dragon.
They brought this dragon home, named him Vincent, and nursed him back to health. He was the first resident of the Dragon Sanctuary. More would follow. And it became apparent that it was mostly small and young dragons that would fall through the Fracture. The Haste siblings dedicated their lives and their fortune to creating a place where lost dragons could heal and live in peace.
They swore to keep the secret of the Fracture and the dragons in this world. For the safety of the dragons, it's best if the world not know how to find them or the way into their realm. This secret and the stewardship of the Dragon Sanctuary has been passed down through the generations of the Haste family and shared with only trusted staff and volunteers.
Change of mission
For a long time, the Fracture only worked in one direction. Dragons could fall through to our realm, but couldn't return. During this time, as dragons came of age and wanted to leave the Dragon Sanctuary, the Haste's found safe and remote places in the British Isles (and sometimes beyond) where the dragons could find a home.
In 1993, Druids employed by the Dragon Sanctuary to investigate and try to close the Fracture found a way to temporarily reverse the flow and we were able to start sending parties through to explore the dragon realm and find a way to return lost dragons to their families.
Unlike this end of the Fracture, which is fixed in space, the end in the dragon realm moves around. For a long while, it was luck and chance where we ended up visiting in the dragon realm. Over the years our Druids have got better at predicting the location of the far end. Our Rangers have done great work mapping the dragon realm and have built up trusting relationships with many dragon clans.
Since then, we have worked tirelessly to return as many dragons as possible to their homes, clans, and families.
Today
Morwen Haste is the current Steward of the Dragon Sanctuary, following in the long traditions of her family.
We have a staff of five Druids working with and investigating the Fracture; they also function as magical healers to our dragons. Our party of three Rangers plan and carry out expeditions into the dragon realm. We also have a number of kind and wonderful volunteers who feed and spend time with our dragons.