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Incorporated into : 1974 [[Dwyfor]] (1996 [[Gwynedd]]) | Incorporated into : 1974 [[Dwyfor]] (1996 [[Gwynedd]]) | ||
The borough never was granted, or used, arms. | The borough never was granted, or officially used, arms. | ||
The borough used a seal, probably dating from 1442, when the town charter was confirmed by Henry VI. It was listed as still in existence in 1857. The seal, shown below, showed an elephant with a castle. There is doubt whether the seal is indeed ancient and not made in 1857 by the town clerk from his memory of an old design, but he was unable to provide documentary evidence of this. The design, however, as shown below and reproduced by Jones in 1913, clearly has a medieval design in all aspects. | The borough used a seal, probably dating from 1442, when the town charter was confirmed by Henry VI. It was listed as still in existence in 1857. The seal, shown below, showed an elephant with a castle. There is doubt whether the seal is indeed ancient and not made in 1857 by the town clerk from his memory of an old design, but he was unable to provide documentary evidence of this. The design, however, as shown below and reproduced by Jones in 1913, clearly has a medieval design in all aspects. | ||
<center> | |||
<gallery widths=250px heights=200px perrow=0> | |||
File:Pwllheliseal.jpg|Arms (crest) of Pwllheli|The medieval seal of Pwllheli (image from 1913) | |||
</gallery> | |||
</center> | |||
The meaning of the design is not known. An elephant bearing a castle is an old early medieval symbol for Christ and the hope for redemption, as well as a symbol for strength. In one tale, a young elephant is the only creature that can return a older, fallen elephant to its feet. The young elephant in this story represents Jesus Christ, while the rescued adult elephant symbolizes mankind’s redemption from a life of sin. This story conveyed to readers that the only source of salvation was Christian faith. These stories were popular all over Europe and in several medieval codices an elephant bearing a castle can be seen. Several medieval towns in Europe thus have an elephant and castle in their arms (see f.e. [[Beckov]], [[Coventry]], [[Dumbarton]]) and the composition is also used originally as a religious symbol in the highest Danish Order, the Order of the Elephant, since the 17th century (later an Indian driver was added for the Danish colonies in India). In England there is a story regarding the Elephant and Castle district in London and refers to a story involving Isabela of Castille. However the name is based on the name of a pub established in 1765, i.e. 130 years after the events in the legend. | The meaning of the design is not known. An elephant bearing a castle is an old early medieval symbol for Christ and the hope for redemption, as well as a symbol for strength. In one tale, a young elephant is the only creature that can return a older, fallen elephant to its feet. The young elephant in this story represents Jesus Christ, while the rescued adult elephant symbolizes mankind’s redemption from a life of sin. This story conveyed to readers that the only source of salvation was Christian faith. These stories were popular all over Europe and in several medieval codices an elephant bearing a castle can be seen. Several medieval towns in Europe thus have an elephant and castle in their arms (see f.e. [[Beckov]], [[Coventry]], [[Dumbarton]]) and the composition is also used originally as a religious symbol in the highest Danish Order, the Order of the Elephant, since the 17th century (later an Indian driver was added for the Danish colonies in India). In England there is a story regarding the Elephant and Castle district in London and refers to a story involving Isabela of Castille. However the name is based on the name of a pub established in 1765, i.e. 130 years after the events in the legend. | ||
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<gallery widths=250px heights=200px perrow=0> | <gallery widths=250px heights=200px perrow=0> | ||
File:Pwllheli.jj.jpg|Arms (crest) of Pwllheli|The arms on a [[jaja|JaJa]] postcard +/- 1905 | File:Pwllheli.jj.jpg|Arms (crest) of Pwllheli|The arms on a [[jaja|JaJa]] postcard +/- 1905 | ||
File:Pwllhelicrc.jpg|Arms (crest) of Pwllheli|The seal on crested china +/- 1905-1915 | File:Pwllhelicrc.jpg|Arms (crest) of Pwllheli|The seal on crested china +/- 1905-1915 | ||
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{{media}} | {{media}} | ||
[[Literature]] : Jones, E.A. Memorials of old north Wales, London : G. Allen & company, ltd., 1913, p.247; https://blogs.getty.edu/iris/the-implausible-medieval-elephant/; | [[Literature]] : Jones, E.A. Memorials of old north Wales, London : G. Allen & company, ltd., 1913, p.247; https://blogs.getty.edu/iris/the-implausible-medieval-elephant/; information from the town council (2022) | ||
[[Category:United Kingdom Municipalities P]] | [[Category:United Kingdom Municipalities P]] | ||
[[Category:Wales]] | [[Category:Wales]] |
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