List of buildings and structures in Portmeirion

This is a list of notable buildings and structures in the village of Portmeirion, in Gwynedd, northwest Wales. Portmeirion was created as an Italianate village by the architect, Clough Williams-Ellis, who bought the Aber Iâ mansion and its estate in 1925 as the location for his project. He built his eccentric, eclectic village between 1925 and 1975.[1] He also bought the nearby Castell Deudraeth in 1931.

Allegedly inspired by the colourful buildings of Portofino in Italy, many of Portmeirion's buildings were built on a tight budget, using salvaged and re-used materials.[2] In 1971 fourty of the fifty main buildings gained a Grade II heritage listing, one of the first examples of this happening for a still living architect.[3]

The village is now a tourist destination with over 200,000 visitors a year.[1]

Listed buildings
Image Name Date completed Description Listing
Portmeirion Town Hall (Hercules Hall) 1938 An imposing two-storey building in a 17th-century style, the Town Hall incorporates large amounts of dressed stone and a vaulted plasterwork ceiling salvaged from Emral Hall in Flintshire. These were bought at auction by Williams-Ellis. The vaulted ceiling depicts the Labours of Hercules (as well as the signs of the Zodiac) which give the building its alternative name of Hercules Hall.[4] Grade I
Campanile
(Bell Tower)		 1928 Described as the most significant building in the village, the tower is seven storeys in height, construction began in 1925 with the intention of it being a focal point.[5] The tower is in a Baroque style, incorporating stone from a nearby 12th-century castle and a chiming clock from a London brewery.[6] Grade II*
The Colonnade 1959
(original c. 1760)		 Originally a bath stone colonnade, part of the Arnos Court bathhouse in Bristol dating from circa 1760. The bathhouse was damaged during World War II, Williams-Ellis acquired the Colonnade and erected it in Portmeirion. A portrait head of Williams-Ellis was added by sculptor Jonah Jones.[7] Grade II*
Anchor 1936 Four storey 'Mediterranean' style building, though tucked into a cliff and accessed from the road at the top floor.[8] Attached to (and forms a pair with) Fountain (1937). Fountain is the yellow building in the picture. Grade II
Angel 1926 [9] Grade II
The Arches 1964 Originally staff accommodation and garages, it became a shop in 1965.[10] Grade II
Bandstand and Hercules Steps 1961 A single storey classical loggia, though originally designed to house the village electricity substation underneath. Three flights of broad stone steps adjacent.[11] Grade II
Battery 1927 A three-storey house with Kent vernacular weatherboarding to the facade. Originally called 'Block C', the ground floor was originally used as a garage.[12] Grade II
The Belvedere 1960 A simple classical 2-storey house, which incorporates stained glass from Castell Deudraeth.[13] Grade II
Bridge House 1959 One of the gatehouses to Portmeirion, a two-storey building over a tunnel arch.[14] Grade II
Casino 1926 Listed together with the Amis Reunis boat, the Casino loggia is part of the seafront terrace in front of the Portmeirion Hotel.[15] Grade II
Castell Deudraeth 1700s A mansion on the Portmeirion Estate, bought by Clough Williams-Ellis in 1931. Reopened after extensive renovation in 2001.[16] Grade II
Chantry 1937 [17] Grade II
Chantry Lodge 1969 Built as an office and reception building.[18] Grade II
Chantry Row 1963 [19] Grade II
Chinese Gateway and steps 1961 A single storey pavilion in a Chinese style with an 'oriental' metal roof. Attached walls, railings and flight of stairs are also listed.[20] Grade II
Cliff House 1969 A Georgian style house to the east of the village, with facades of three bays.[21] Williams-Ellis shows his love of visual tricks, with the windows on one side of the house being false, purely to retain symmetry.[2] Grade II
Corrugated iron shelter 1950s [22] Grade II
Dolphin 1934 A large 3-storey building with the south elevation facing the River Dwyryd estuary.[23] Grade II
Dovecote 1800s A pre-existing circular rubble dovecote associated with the original Aber Iâ mansion.[24] Grade II
Former Tollhouse 1950s [25] Grade II
Fountain 1937 Three-storey house with a flat roof, adjacent to Anchor.[26] Fountain is the pink-washed house to the right of the Anchor in the image. Grade II
The Gatehouse 1955 An imposing 2-storey gatehouse over a tunnel arch. It was the first post-war building and includes a ceiling mural painted by German artist, Hans Feibusch.[27] Grade II
The Gazebo 1983 Built to mark the centenary of Clough William-Ellis's birth, the Gazebo was built to designs by his daughter, Susan.[28] Grade II
Gloriette 1965 An imposing classical loggia, named after the building that inspired it at Schoenbrunn Palace, Vienna.[29] Grade II
Gothick Pavilion 1966
(original c. 1815)		 Originally a porch for Nerquis Hall in Flintshire, it was relocated to Portmeirion with amendments by Williams-Ellis.[30] Grade II
Government House 1929 Built as overspill accommodation for the hotel, Government House is a large building of two sections, one of three storeys and the other of two storeys.[31] Grade II
Portmeirion Hotel c. 1850 Formerly known as the mansion of Aber Iâ, the building and its grounds were bought in 1925 by Williams-Ellis as the focus for his new village.[32] Grade II
Ladies Lodge 1939 Originally a garage, the building was converted to be used as a shop.[33] Grade II
The Lighthouse 1963 [34] Grade II
Mermaid c. 1840 Originally a gardener's cottage for the Aber Iâ mansion, Williams-Ells decorated it in a Regency-Gothic style.[35] Grade II
Neptune 1926 [36] Grade II
Observatory Tower 1937 [37] Grade II
The Pantheon and addition 1961 Also known as the Dome, due to its large octagonal dome surmounted by a cupola. on the southwest side is a large Gothic porch and to the rear is a single storey extension.[38] Grade II
Prior's Lodging 1929 The two-storey building forms part of Battery Square and is named after its first tenant, the Prior of the Monastery of Caldy.[39] Grade II
Rotunda and Grotto 1954 Built as a circular viewing platform, but containing a shell grotto lined with scallop shells and conches.[40] Grade II
Round House and arch 1960 [41] Grade II
Salutation c. 1842-1858 Originally the stable block and lodge for the Aber Iâ mansion. Later used as a shop selling Portmeirion Pottery[42] and as a general gift shop. Grade II
Shelter and statue of Buddha 1964 Gold painted statue of Buddha (used for the 1958 film Inn of the Sixth Happiness) housed in a circular shelter with a decorative ballustrade and a pantiled roof.[43] Grade II
Telford's Tower, walls and arches 1958 A three-storey tower with a single storey range, built to mark the bicentenary of the birth of Thomas Telford.[44] Grade II
Trinity 1934 A three-storey Georgian-style building, originally with garages underneath.[45] Lately used as a shop. Grade II
The Unicorn 1964 An elegant, classical building, deliberately built much smaller to give an impression of a grand stately home from a distance.[46] Grade II
Villa Winch 1967 A two-storey domestic building behind the Chantry, built for Clough-Ellis's friend, Captain Henry Winch.[47] Grade II
Watch House 1926 A small cottage-like single-storey building, behind Dolphin, facing towards the sea.[48] Grade II
White Horses 1700s/1966 An eighteenth-century cottage with a 1966 extension by Williams-Ellis. Attached to the Observatory Tower.[49] Grade II

Other listed structures
Image Name Date completed Description Listing
Amis Reunis 1930 A recreation in concrete, now part of the sea wall, of a 70 ton Breton trading ketch. Williams-Ellis incorporates elements from the original boat.[15][50] Grade II
Angel Gates (Hercules Gate) c. 1937 Dated 1908 but erected opposite the Town Hall prior to the completion of that building.[51] Grade II
Astrolabe – Metal astrolabe, on top of a Tuscan stone column set on a terracotta octagonal base.[52] Grade II
Hercules Statue 1960 (cast c. 1863) Statue by William Brodie, erected on a tall stone pedestal in the current site in 1960.[53] Grade II
Monument in Battery Square – Statue of an eagle, on top of a stone ball finial, atop an iron column.[54] Grade II
Wall adjoining Bridge House early 1800s An 19th century wall associated with the Aber Iâ mansion.[55] The listed walling is visible both in the left of the picture, and in the centre-right (between the rock outcrop and the rear of Bridge House). Grade II

See also

References
  1. "Portmeirion in 'authentic top 50'". Wales Online. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  2. Williams, Mark (20 December 2021). "Preserving Portmeirion: a piece of Italy in Wales". Modus. RICS. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  3. Haslam, Richard; Orbach, Julian; Voelcker, Adam (2009). Buildings of Wales - Gwynedd. Yale University Press. p. 687. ISBN 978-0-300-14169-6.
  4. "Portmeirion Town Hall". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  5. Jones, Nigel R. (2005). Architecture of England, Scotland, and Wales. Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 198. ISBN 978-0313318504. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  6. "Campanile (Also Called The Bell Tower)". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  7. "The Colonnade". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  8. "Anchor". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  9. "Angel". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  10. "The Arches". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  11. "Bandstand and Adjoining Flight of Descending Steps (the Hercules Steps)". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  12. "Battery". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  13. "The Belvedere, Including Associated Terraces". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  14. "Battery". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  15. "Sea-front Terrace Incorporating the Casino and Amis Reunis". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  16. "Castell Deudraeth". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  17. "Chantry". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  18. "Reception (Chantry Lodge)". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  19. "Chantry Row". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  20. "Chinese Gateway, Steps and Railings to Anchor, Including Associated Wall with Enclosure to N". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  21. "Cliff House Including Annex". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  22. "Corrugated Iron Shelter". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  23. "Dolphin (Including Royal Dolphin)". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  24. "Dovecote Above Portmeirion Hotel". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  25. "Former Tollhouse (Now Public Telephone Kiosk)". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  26. "Fountain". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  27. "The Gatehouse". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  28. "The Gazebo". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  29. "Gloriette". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  30. "Gothick Pavilion". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  31. "Government House". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  32. "Portmeirion Hotel". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  33. "Ladies Lodge (Siop Bach)". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  34. "The Lighthouse". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  35. "Mermaid". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  36. "Neptune". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  37. "Observatory Tower". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  38. "The Pantheon Including Addition to the Rear". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  39. "Prior's Lodging". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  40. "Rotunda or Grotto". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  41. "Round House Including Adjoining Arch and Walkway". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  42. "Salutation". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  43. "Statue of Buddha". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  44. "Telford's Tower, Including Adjoining Walls and Arches". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  45. "Trinity House Including Adjacent Petrol Pump". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  46. "The Unicorn". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  47. "Villa Winch". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  48. "Watch House". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  49. "White Horses". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  50. Tom Nancollas (2023), "Anchor - Amis Reunis", The Ship Asunder - A Maritime History Of Britain in Eleven Vessels, Penguin, ISBN 9780241434154
  51. "Angel Gates (Hercules Gate)". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  52. "Astrolabe". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  53. "Hercules Statue". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  54. "Hercules Statue". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  55. "C19 Wall Adjoining Bridge House to the E". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.