Day 03 (Part 2)

Day 03 continued….

From Portmadog we headed for what would be the gem of this North Wales trip –Portmerion. We first discovered this place a few years back while watching a Billy Connelly ‘World Tour’ of England, Ireland & Wales series and decided that we just had to find it while in Wales.

The lovely, and rather magnificent, town of Portmeirion was designed by Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis (1883-1978), who studied at the Architectural Association School (London) and later went on to work in private practices in London and Merioneth.

Some years later he inherited Plas Brondanw, Merioneth and in 1925 he acquired the neighbouring site for what became Portmeirion. At only £5,000 it was described as "a neglected wilderness” but he believed it to be an ideal site, and engaged upon plans and models for the lay out of an entire small township.

He then spent the following 50 years proving how “the development of a naturally beautiful site need not lead to its ruining” and wanted to do much to shake the current notion that although houses must be designed with due care, towns may grow up by chance.

His lifelong concern was with Architecture, Landscape Design, the protection of Rural Wales and Conservation generally, although critics were excessively sympathetic, modernism architects tended to ignore his achievements.

One notable fellow Architect; Frank Lloyd Wright was drawn to Portmeirion, who came in 1956 during his one and only visit to his ancestral country - Wales.

Today Portmeirion is a living town with actual residents, however it is owned by a Registered Charity called The Second Portmeirion Foundation and managed by Portmeirion Limited. It is also well know as being the set for the television program “The Prisoner”.

After several hours of exploring the buildings and gardens (in the lovely Welsh weather -rain) we headed back to Betws-y-Coed for a second night’s stay.