Mention the Welsh village of Portmeirion to any Briton of a certain age, and chances are they’ll immediately say, “The Prisoner”, referring to the cult television show of the 1960s that was filmed there. Or they’ll say that they’ve got a piece of Portmeirion pottery at home. The programme and the pottery have created a sort of mystique around the place, and I wanted to explore the village and its architecture for myself. I expected it to be fantastical, and I was right: the whole place resembles a giant architectural folly.
Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and the Building of Portmeirion
Portmeirion was the vision of one man: Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. He was an architect whose dream was to build an Italian-themed holiday village in North Wales. He designed some of his buildings around the remains of earlier structures (the Town Hall still has stone windows and 17th century panelling), but most were completely new.
Portmeirion opened in 1926 with a hotel and two cottages. Over the next 50 years new buildings were added, creating a settlement with houses, shops and cafés. It became a fashionable location, and Noel Coward wrote his play Blithe Spirit while staying here in 1941. It is still a tourist village, with a hotel and holiday apartments. I watched a wedding party trooping into the Town Hall: it seems to be popular for special occasions.
Exploring Portmeirion
Portmeirion is a magnet for tourists. You can see why: even on a wet Welsh day (of which there are many) the brightly coloured buildings are vibrant and cheerful. Every building is different, with towers or turrets, archways and statues. The gardens at the centre boast a pavilion and a giant chess set. As you walk around you are gripped by a sense of unreality. It is not surprising to learn that Portmeirion has been used as a set for several films and television programmes as well as The Prisoner.
Despite the rain I ventured into the woodland above the village, passing by a mock temple and stopping to take in the view from a hillside gazebo. There are 70 acres of forest and, if it had been a fine day, I would have had a good choice of tracks to follow, through the woodland and along the coast. As it was, I took shelter with a glass of wine in the Town Hall café instead.
But What About the Pottery?
One thing was puzzling me. I had seen a shop selling the famous Portmeirion pottery, with its distinctive botanical designs, but where was the factory? A quick search on Google supplied the answer: it isn’t made in Portmeirion at all but in Stoke-on-Trent! Apparently it was given the name by its designer – Susan Williams-Ellis, the daughter of Portmeirion’s founder.
The connection may be tenuous, but the existence of the pottery shop shows how firmly the village and the pottery are linked in the tourist imagination. Similarly, there is a gift shop with Prisoner branded souvenirs. It’s all part of the mythology that surrounds Portmeirion.
How to Visit Portmeirion
- The easiest way to visit Portmeirion is by car. However, there is a daily bus service from Porthmadog in summer. Mainline trains run from London to Bangor, 30 miles away.
- There is a wide choice of accommodation., including hotel, village rooms and self catering.
- Dinner and afternoon tea are available in the hotel, and there are several cafés and coffee shops in the village.
12 thoughts on “Exploring the Architectural Folly of Portmeirion”
I remember visiting Portmeirion many many years ago. We had never heard of either the place or the pottery but it was mentioned in our guide book and we were on a slow holiday with the kids. Was there a concrete boat – or am I muddling that bit up with somewhere else?
I didn’t see the concrete boat, but I’ve just googled it and you’re absolutely right! It was a bit wet when we went so we didn’t go too far along the coast.
I hadn’t heard of either “The Prisoner” or the pottery but Portmeirion looks like a delightful village to wander about and even spend a night. We usually try to avoid tourist hotspots, but this village looks like a great place to just stroll around and enjoy all of its quaint charm! Anita
In college I saw all of the episodes of the The Prisoner multiple times, but I admit I never knew where it was filmed! I can picture Portmeirion so well, building by building. Is the beach right below it in real life? I would expect a weird bubble-like thing to appear and chase me down the beach! “I am not a number; I am a free man!” What a period piece it was! (And yes, I know, I’m letting my geekiness show!)
Yes, the beach is just below, although you have to be careful with the tides. I think it disappears at certain times of day!
It’s amazing how many places in the UK have tourism industries augmented by their having been featured in a movie or a TV series, Downtown Abbey, Game of Thrones (I’ve never seen it, but when we were in Iceland, they had Game of Thrones tours. (BTW, I know Iceland is not part of the UK). I lived in England in a Wiltshire Market Town, Devizes in 1969-70. At the time, it had a reputation as “that place where they filed “Far from the Madding Crowd”. It looks like you had a nice day and I enjoyed seeing the pottery—-even if it’s made in Stoke-on-Trent.
Oh yes, I remember that old Far from the Madding Crowd film. It had lots of familiar places in it…
Portmeirion is such a surprise to come across in Wales. I still treasure my Portmeirion tea pot decorated with red cherries, and I have a VCR set of “The Prisoner.” May years ago when I stayed in that wonderful hotel overlooking the sea they played it on the room TV in a continuous loop. You might enjoy my take on this beautiful spot, http://www.berkeleyandbeyond.com/Way-Beyond/Travel-Articles/Abroad/Wales-Portmeirion/wales-portmeirion.html
Interesting – I’m envious of you having stayed in that hotel!
I always enjoy reading about an idea that becomes reality. I would like to visit Portmeirion some day. I thought it interesting about the pottery origins too. Excellent article!
My wife and I stayed a night in a beautiful room in the restaurant building overlooking the central pond. The weather was outstandingly warm and bright, for wandering around looking at all the fabulous structures and quirky details. As a architect I was thoroughly enthralled. The best part, however, was once the village was closed to the public, we were able to retrace our daytime steps in the calm evening , with all the lights giving another perspective to the village. Must go back again some time, although it’s a fair hike from New Zealand.
How wonderful! If I go back to Portmeirion I plan to spend a night in the village too.