26865

 

II  

Designated  

23/08/2002  

23/08/2002  

Chinese Gateway, Steps and Railings to Anchor, Including Associated Wall with Enclosure to N  

 

Gwynedd  

Penrhyndeudraeth  

 

Portmeirion  

258945  

337095  

 

Flanking the metalled lane leading to the hotel on the E.  

Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces  

 

Portmeirion was designed and laid out by the celebrated architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis (1883-1978) following his purchase of the estate, then called Aber Iâ, in 1926. The village evolved over several decades and was still being added to in the 1970s.  

Single-storey Chinese-style pavilion with adjoining walls, railings and steps. The pavilion is of rendered brick or block-work and has a fanciful oriental metal roof carried on 4 stone corner balls. Off-centre arch to the R with pierced square light to the L; similar light to the narrow southern end and a trompe l'oeil equivalent on the N side. Within the pavilion a flight of steps descends towards Anchor and Fountain, passing through a similar arch on its E side. Two bridges with similar decorative balustrades give high level access to the two houses, while below this, immediately to the SW of Anchor, is a narrow terrace with decorative iron balustrade between square rendered piers. Adjoining the Chinese Gateway to the S and N is a rubble parapetted revettment wall which follows the road down to the Hotel and up towards the Town Hall. The wall terminates to the S at a flight of steps leading down to the Sea-front Terrace. To the N the wall continues to a point diagonally opposite the Town Hall where it terminates in a small U-shaped enclosure open to the road side. This has a section of turned balustrading to the E side with short advanced stretches to the L and R. That to the R (S), is surmounted by a shaped gable with open arch to the centre and with surmounting urn finial; cobbled pavement.  

 

Listed as one of a number of buildings and structures erected by the eminent architect and conservationist Sir Clough Williams-Ellis for his visionary Portmeirion villiage. Group value with other listed items at Portmeirion.