Celebrated artist’s totem leaves lasting town legacy
NO matter how well you know Llanelli, this one is a bit of a brainteaser . . .
The Llanelli Totem sits in a prime location - but most people walk by each day and barely give it a second glance.
And, if you are looking for the ultimate Llanelli trivia quiz question, you can ask how the Totem is connected to the world famous ‘Black Christ of Alabama’ church window? Puzzled?
Well, let’s begin with the location . . .
Llanelli’s Totem sits on the back corner of Ty Elwyn, the long-time local authority hub, first for the old Llanelli Borough Council and then for Carmarthenshire Council.
The Totem is best viewed from Old Castle Road, sitting high up on the wall of Ty Elwyn, out of harm’s way.
A Totem is generally a thing regarded as being symbolic or representative of a particular quality or concept.
North American indians are famous for their Totem poles, but the symbols can be found worldwide.
Llanelli’s Totem is made up of signs that relate to the town and surrounding area.
Former senior police officer Iain Sewell helpfully provided a drawing of what it all means.
He explained: “I was having a clear-out of some of my ‘archive’ material when I came across the drawing and thought others familiar with Llanelli’s history would like to see what it’s all about.”