Editing Llanelli (section)

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Llanelli history}}
The beginnings of Llanelli can be found on the lands of present-day Parc Howard. An Iron Age hill fort once stood which was called ''Bryn-Caerau'' (hill of the forts). Evidence suggests there were five hill forts from Old Road to the Dimpath. During the Roman conquest of Wales it is unknown whether the area of Llanelli was part of the [[Silures]] tribe or the [[Demetae]] tribe. There is evidence of a Roman camp near St Elli shopping centre. It is unknown when it was built, and it was completely abandoned shortly after construction either due to the Romans thinking the area was completely worthless or due to a raid by either rebellious local Britons or an Irish raid. During the post-Roman period, the area of Llanelli may have been heavily populated with [[Paganism|Pagans]] as there's evidence of a pagan worship temple under the Saint Elli church, it may have had frequent raids from [[Brycheiniog]] and [[Kingdom of Dyfed|Dyfed]] in order to Christianise the area to which it would eventually fall into Dyfed. During the early medieval period, it is said a saint named Elli, or Ellyw,<ref name=EB1911/> who in legend is the son or daughter of King [[Brychan]] established a church on the banks of the [[Afon Lliedi]]. The original church would have been a wooden or partly stone, thatched structure. According to early Welsh transcripts, the church of Carnwyllion, i.e. the mother church of the cwmwd, was at Llanelli.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LN9DSKZfItcC&pg=PA70|title=St David of Wales: Cult, Church and Nation|year=2007|page=70|publisher=Boydell Press|isbn=978-1843833222}}</ref> The current [[St Elli's Church, Llanelly|St Elli's Church]] dates from the 14th century although extensive restorations were completed in 1911.<ref>{{NHAW|num=6665|desc=St Elli's Church, Llanelly|grade=II*|access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref>

According to the [[Red Book of Hergest]] during the [[Norman invasion of Wales]] Rhys Ieuanc and his uncle Maelgwn ap Rhys took the allegiance of all the Welsh of the [[Kingdom of Dyfed]] apart from one region. [[Cemais (Dyfed)|Cemais]] would not pay allegiance and thus Rhys Ieuanc and his uncle, Maelgwn ap Rhys, attacked and pillaged the area moving on to attack the castles at Narberth and Maenclochog. At this time Rhys Ieuanc moved against Cedweli and Carnwyllion with his forces besieging and burning Carnwyllion Castle in 1215.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.llanellich.org.uk/files/216-carnwyllion-castle|title= Carnwyllion Castle|publisher=Llanelli Community Heritage|access-date=28 November 2022}}</ref>

Llanelli was industrialised in the early 19th century as the global centre for [[tinplate]] production.<ref>J. Paxton (1999), ''The Penguin Encyclopedia of Places'', 3rd ed. London: Penguin.</ref> Lying near the Western fringe of the South Wales Coal Field, Llanelli played an important role in industry, with coal exported through three small docks along with the copper and tin produced within the town itself. Although Llanelli is not located within the South Wales valleys, coal from the Gwendraeth and the Loughor Valleys was transported to Llanelli for export. The [[Stepney Family]] and other prominent families (including the Raby family, Howard family and Cowell family), played an important role in the development of the town. Aside from industry, Llanelli is also renowned for its pottery, which has a unique cockerel hand-painted on each item. A collection of this pottery can bee seen at the Llanelli Museum in Parc Howard.<ref name="Tin">{{Cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Bill |last2=Lewis |first2= Ronald L. |date=May 2007 |title=Gender and Transnationality among Welsh Tinplate Workers in Pittsburgh: The Hattie Williams Affair, 1895 |journal=Labor History|volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=178 |doi=10.1080/00236560701224890 |s2cid=145212902}}</ref>

Llanelli people are sometimes nicknamed "Turks".<ref name="WallerCriddle1999">{{Cite book |last1=Waller |first1=Robert |author-link1=Robert Waller (pundit) |last2=Criddle |first2=Byron |title=The Almanac of British Politics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9mC7pEr0R6QC&pg=PA326 |year=1999 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-0-415-18541-7 |page=326}}</ref> There are several theories on this nickname: Llanelli allowed the docking of a Turkish ship when Swansea dockers were on strike in the 1920s, Llanelli tinplate workers wrapped their heads like turbans to deal with sweat, or it is a reference to the 4th Battalion of the [[Welch Regiment]] fighting against the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the [[Middle Eastern theatre of World War I]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bannon |first1=Christie |title=The real meanings behind the Welsh nicknames we all use |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/real-meanings-behind-welsh-nicknames-15481156 |access-date=17 May 2024 |publisher=Wales Online |date=24 December 2018}}</ref>

The built up area, as defined by the [[Office for National Statistics]], extends beyond the Llanelli community to include parts of the neighbouring Llanelli Rural community.<ref name=ONS/>

In 2024 it was announced that the town would be seeking city status.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Harries |first=Robert |date=2024-01-12 |title=The struggling Welsh town that wants to become a city |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/struggling-welsh-town-llanelli-wants-28434701 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Llanelli wants to become Wales' eighth city |url=https://news.sky.com/story/llanelli-wants-to-become-wales-eighth-city-13049539 |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref>