Dragons return to Kew Gardens pagoda after 200-year absence

Replacements installed during 5m restoration of spectacular garden folly

The dragons are back at Kew after more than two centuries, tails curled, wings neatly furled to make them less of a wind catcher, gazing down with glittering eyes on the acres of gardens and thousands of visitors far below.

The most spectacular garden folly in England, the great pagoda towers 50 metres over Kew Gardens. It was designed by Sir William Chambers in 1762 after visiting China, where his travels were restricted, but he sketched every traditional building he could see - including pagodas.