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Portmeirion - The Italianate Village.

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In 1925 Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis Kt. CBE. MC. LLD. FRIBA. FRTPI. FILA. (1883-1978) bought the site Aber Iâ in North Wales for a sum less than £5000. The name was changed to Portmeirion, which derived from the word Port, and Meirion after the county of Merioneth, in which county the land was. Within the estate had once stood an 11th century castle belonging to Gruffydd ap Cynan, King of Wales. This was razed in 1869 - lest it attract visitors!

Clough had long held the desire to create a village that was full of picturesque buildings ornately adorned and brightly painted. His quest was for beauty. By 1926 he had created a model for such a village, and began to attract investors.

Between 1925 and 1939 he began his Italianate village, and built the most distinctive buildings. There had existed four buildings on the site previously, one of which was the Hotel, and another a stable block, now named the Salutation. After the restrictions of the war he continued to build, and today a quarter of a million visitors flock to visit Portmeirion. All of the cottages and houses in the village are let out as holiday homes.

Many of the artefacts and statues are reclaimed or acquired as additions to the village, and date from times much earlier than Portmeirion. The statue of the huntsman that stands outside Cliff House e.g. dates back to 1750. Click on any picture to see full size.

The Hotel was an existing building on the land, originally built circa 1850, and it was in a state of disrepair. It received Clough William Ellis's attentions, and was open to the public.

The first buildings erected in Portmeirion were the Neptune, and the Angel. Completed in 1926, they were originally just called Block A and Block B. As the hotel was up and running, building would only take place between its closing in October and reopening at Easter. Buildings therefore had to be completely completed in that time.

Also in 1926 Clough Williams-Ellis added his personal touch to the Mermaid, which originally built in 1840 had already existed on the site, and was a gardeners bothey.

In 1927 the block known as The Battery was completed,

and in 1928 the Belltower.

In 1929 came the Toll House. Clough Williams-Ellis used some of the stones from the razed Welsh Castle to build it, as if in reparation for his ancestor having destroyed it.

1930 saw the boat Amis Reunis being installed as a part of the sea wall in front of the Portmeirion Hotel, and also the Casino Loggia.  The Amis Reunis had been a seagoing boat, but was wrecked in a storm. A false bottom has been painted onto the wall, with the actual remains of the boat being the top.

The Trinity was built between 1933 and 1934, which has the amazing old National Benzole petrol pump outside. The Dolphin was also built in 1933.

1936 saw the building of the Anchor, and between 1936 and 1937 the Observatory was built on the beach below the village of Portmeirion.

In 1937 the beautiful Chantry was built, as was the Fountain, and 1937 to 1938 witnessed the building of the Portmeirion Town Hall.

From 1938 to 1939 the Lady's Lodge was built, and was the last pre-war building at Portmeirion.

With the restrictions on building during the war years, very little was added during the 1940's, but the village was well established, and what was to come later would be the finer details.

To be completed........

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