Gargoyles are grotesque figures that project from buildings and serve as waterspouts. They originated from the French word "gargouille," meaning throat. According to legend, a dragon named La Gargouille terrorized the town of Rouen, France by swallowing ships and breathing fire. Saint Romanus convinced the villagers to let him subdue the dragon. He led La Gargouille into the village on a leash. The villagers then mounted the dragon's head on the newly built church to ward off evil spirits and protect the townsfolk.

2. What is a gargoyle?
 A waterspout in the form of
a grotesque human or
animal figure projecting
from the roof or eaves of a
building
 From the French word
‘gargouille’ meaning ‘throat’

3. The Legend of
La Gargouille
Long ago in the country of France a dragon named La Gargouille
would come out of his cave near the river Seine to swallow ships and
destroy houses with his fiery breath. In order to appease him, the
people of Rouen would feed him a live victim, usually a convict, each
year.
St. Romanus, a priest who came to Rouen about 600
A.D., persuaded the villagers to let him deal with the dragon.The
villagers promised to be baptized and to build a church if he subdued
La Gargouille.
Laden with the equipment of exorcism -bells, books, candles, and
crosses - St. Romanus and that year's convict disappeared behind
some great beechwoods on the other side of the Seine. A few hours
later, they emerged from the grove, leading La Gargouille by a leash
fashioned from the priest's robe.
The citizens of the town tied the dragon to a stake and built a great
fire to burn him. Only the neck and head did not burn; they were
accustomed to being heated by the dragon's fiery breath. The
villagers then took the dragon’s head and neck and mounted it on the
newly built church to scare off evil spirits and to protect them.

4. Purpose
 To direct rainwater away from
the sides of buildings
 To ward off demons
 To guard townsfolk as they
slept
 To scare people into coming to
church
 To warn against the devil
 To convert people to
Catholicism