THE iconic 'big hat' of Carmarthen — which has hung in Lammas Street for more than a century — has returned to its rightful place.

The top hat has been restored to its full glory with fresh paint and a diamond shape logo and is now proudly hanging outside the relocated Burgess Jewellers.

Journal reader Edward Davies from Trevaughan was on hand to capture the moment the hat was put back into place.

Shop owner Peter Burgess said he was pleased the hat had been returned to "its rightful place".

He had paid to have the sculpture taken down and repaired by Mac-Welding of Tanerdy.

Traced

This particular hat was made in the mid-1960s by Gwynne Williams, who owned Fusilier Sheet Metal Works in Water Street. The design had been copied from the previous one it replaced.

This is the third such giant hat to hang outside number 13 Lammas Street and has so far lasted for 45 years. Earlier hats can be traced back to the 19th Century.

Henry Wilkins, of Evans & Wilkins Mensware in Hall Street, has a photograph of an old delivery van belonging to "Evan Morris & Sons — The Big Hat."

This was the original company that occupied the building on Lammas Street and set up the original big hat.

Mr Wilkins's grandfather and his partner Mr Evans each worked for Morris before leaving to start their own business, which of course still survives today and moved to Hall Street in 1934.

Morris has long since closed but the big hat has remained and looks set to grace the busy Lammas Street for many years to come.

It echoes the efforts of the town's chamber of commerce to see the old character of the town remain intact for shoppers and visitors despite the opening of St Catherine's Walk and more high street retailers.