Minty has keeled over at the sight of chips.

In Portmeirion, in Wales.

I’d love if you guys would subscribe to my new YouTube channel: WelshVistas. I’ll be making little films when I’m out and about exploring in Wales. I have the grand total of two films so far🤭 but I’m really excited to make more and share the places I love with you.

This film is about one of my favourite places, almost on my doorstep- the crazy little Italianate village of Portmeirion, created by the welsh architect Clough Williams Ellis.

Portmeirion

Portmeirion in Gwynedd, North-West Wales, a two-and-a-bit hours drive from Liverpool has a bit of interesting Beatles history attached to it. It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 as an Italianate style village. He drew inspiration from a range of architectural styles, from classical and Gothic to Romanesque and Egyptian, to create the unique and eclectic village that stands to this day. (Watch him talk about the village here)

He was an advocate of rural preservation, amenity planning, industrial design and colourful architecture. "I think that Beauty, The Strange Necessity - as Rebecca West once called it - is something that matters profoundly to humanity, and that unless the race of man perishes from the earth, it will increasingly value that Grace, will seek it, and will ultimately attain it." - Sir Clough Williams-Ellis

Brian and George Martin visiting Portmeirion, 1966

Brian Epstein holidayed here often with family and friends, staying frequently until his death in 1967. Portmeirion was an important place of retreat for him. At the start of August 1966, Brian went there to recuperate from a serious bout of glandular fever after his doctor prescribed a quiet vacation to rest and recover from the intense stress he was under, among other physical ailments recieved during the tour.

Brian became good friends with Williams-Ellis. Staying in the Gatehouse cottage, close to the entrance to the village, Brian suggested that the property might benefit from a dining room where he could entertain guests. Sir Clough duly obliged, building a large and ostentatious room not entirely in keeping with the original cottage. Not only that but the fashion conscious Brian once commissioned a renovation of his room at the Gatehouse having complained that there was not enough space for his clothes when he came to stay in his cottage every summer.

Brian's room in the Gatehouse with wardrobes made to his design (photo: Alli Devine)

““He went to convalesce in Portmeirion, North Wales ... There he invited George Martin as a guest. The two men spent much time devising an idea for a new television series on pop music to rival the BBC’s existing Juke Box Jury. The essence of their programme was that a jury had to guess what the chart ratings were going to be each week. The live programme was to be geared to when the charts of the week were revealed, so that only the presenter would know the record positions. Epstein and Martin took the idea to the BBC’s Bill Cotton Jr. ‘Brian was terribly enthusiastic about it,’ says George Martin, ‘But Bill Cotton didn’t think it was worthwhile. He was working on another programme at that time.’ The Epstein/Martin programme had a suggested title of Pick the Pops. 

Brian told his mother from Portmeririon by telephone that he was bored, that a break was essential before his forthcoming American trip. But his boredom and enforced rest had lasted a weekend when a phone call from Nat Weiss forced him back to reality.” The Man Who Made The Beatles, by Ray Coleman

“He went by himself to a luxury hotel in Portmeirion on the North West coast of Wales that overlooked the Sea, and wind-swept beach, as remote a place as you could get from London. Everyone’s adcice was the same: try not to worry.” He had been there only four days before uproar errupted over John’s Jesus comments. Brian left Portmeirion right away to soothe the chaos. 

“At the time, Brian was in Portmeirion, Wales, and he was ill. As the evening went on and I was getting all these calls, I called Portmeirion in the middle of the night and said, 'Something has to be done about this.’ And he said, is it serious?’ And I said, 'I think it’s so serious that you have to come over here.’The next day he flew over and I met him at the airport. The first thing he said to me was, 'How much would it take to cancel the tour?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know. Maybe a million dollars.’ He was so concerned about anything happening to any of the Beatles.” Nat Weiss, In My Life: The Brian Epstein Story by Debbie Geller

Patrick McGoohan chose the village as the setting for his TV series the Prisoner, which started shooting there in 1966 (he had filmed scenes for an earlier series there too, Danger Man, known as Secret Agent in the US). The Beatles were fans of the show, enjoying it's other-worldly setting, intriguing concept and the anti-establishment struggle of the lead character. George mentioned the Prisoner in his book, I Me Mine. Paul has reportedly stayed there, and Mike McCartney has also stayed there and loves it.

George Harrison loved Portmeirion and famously celebrated his 50th birthday in the village in February 1993. George originally wanted to stay in the Watch House, one of the village's most popular cottages which is high up on the cliff side of the upper part of the village. However the Watch House only has a low wall around it so his security men persuaded him to stay in the much safer Peacock Suite of the main hotel, where Brian had entertained dinner guests all those years ago.

It was also during this stay in Portmeirion that George was filmed for several interviews which were used in the The Beatles Anthology and had some pictures taken in the mirror room.

More footage of the place + Beatles history here.

Definitely worth a read. I'm glad I long since made a decision to stop buying that companies publications.

I don’t feel like putting effort into anything, take this

Enjoying the beauty of Portmeirion, Wales!

IDEAL CITIES: Portmeirion, Part 2

“I am not a number. I am a free man!”

Portmeirion Village provided the backdrop for the 1960's cult classic TV series, “The Prisoner,” starring Patrick McGoohan, who is seen in one of the photos with Clough Williams-Ellis.

Patrick McGoohan not only starred as Number Six, the leading role in “The Prisoner,” he was also the creator and driving force behind the 17 episode series. The series was a sequel to his previous starring vehicle, titled “Danger Man” in the UK, but famously changed to “Secret Agent Man” in the US. Johnny Rivers, memorably sang the title song written by Sloan and Barri for the American broadcast, “Secret Agent Man,” which reached number 3 on the Billboard chart.

Like Seaside in the Truman show, Portmeirion is an idyllic setting that is the de facto prison of the protagonist, in this case a former secret agent who has dared to quit, only to be imprisoned by the powers-that-be because of the dangerous knowledge he has of what really goes on. Both shows raise the question of whether we are prisoners of beauty, and whether we can only be free in the mundane world we actually inhabit. A theme later repeated in “The Matrix” movies.

“The Prisoner” was probably one of the most influential pieces of television of the 1960's not only in the UK and USA, but also in France, Australia, and many other countries. Even The Beatles were fans. Its cult status was confirmed with the establishment in the 1970's of the official Prisoner Appreciation Society, Six of One. Continued interest resulted in an updated version broadcast in 2009 - a 6 episode mini-series with Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen.

Personally, I still covet his Lotus Super Seven!

Johnny Rivers singing:

“Secret, AGENT man! Secret, AGENT man! They’ve given you a number, and taken ‘way your name….”

IDEAL CITIES: Portmeirion, Part 2

“I am not a number. I am a free man!”

Portmeirion Village provided the backdrop for the 1960's cult classic TV series, “The Prisoner,” starring Patrick McGoohan, who is seen in one of the photos with Clough Williams-Ellis.

Patrick McGoohan not only starred as Number Six, the leading role in “The Prisoner,” he was also the creator and driving force behind the 17 episode series. The series was a sequel to his previous starring vehicle, titled “Danger Man” in the UK, but famously changed to “Secret Agent Man” in the US. Johnny Rivers, memorably sang the title song written by Sloan and Barri for the American broadcast, “Secret Agent Man,” which reached number 3 on the Billboard chart.

Like Seaside in the Truman show, Portmeirion is an idyllic setting that is the de facto prison of the protagonist, in this case a former secret agent who has dared to quit, only to be imprisoned by the powers-that-be because of the dangerous knowledge he has of what really goes on. Both shows raise the question of whether we are prisoners of beauty, and whether we can only be free in the mundane world we actually inhabit. A theme later repeated in “The Matrix” movies.

“The Prisoner” was probably one of the most influential pieces of television of the 1960's not only in the UK and USA, but also in France, Australia, and many other countries. Even The Beatles were fans. Its cult status was confirmed with the establishment in the 1970's of the official Prisoner Appreciation Society, Six of One. Continued interest resulted in an updated version broadcast in 2009 - a 6 episode mini-series with Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen.

Personally, I still covet his Lotus Super Seven!

Johnny Rivers singing:

“Secret, AGENT man! Secret, AGENT man! They’ve given you a number, and taken ‘way your name….”

Views 1

📍Portmerion, Wales

“This place is perfect to take photos at. Unfortunately, only two saved. It’s sad, but I’ll go back again one day. Madam Smiler will let me, right?”

Rating: 10/10

01010011 01101101 01101001 01101100 01100101 01110010 00100000 01110111 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01110100 01100001 01101011 01100101 00100000 01100011 01101111 01101110 01110100 01110010 01101111 01101100 00101110 00100000 01010011 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110111 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01100110 01110101 01100101 01101100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01100101 01101101 01110000 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100101 01110011 01110011 00101100 00100000 01100001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01101001 01110100 11100010 10000000 10011001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01100011 01101111 01101110 01110011 01110101 01101101 01100101 00100000 01100001 01101100 01101100 00101110 00100000 01001000 01100001 01110000 01110000 01101001 01101110 01100101 01110011 01110011 00100000 01110100 01101000 01110010 01101111 01110101 01100111 01101000 01101111 01110101 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101100 01100001 01101110 01100100 00101110 00100000 00101101 00100000 01000001 01101100 01100100 01101111

| portmeirion, gwynedd

Portmeirion, Gwynedd, UK

Aneta Pawlik

Source: a_sweet_vinegar

ℍ𝐚𝓵ｌ נ𝐀 𝔳คĻǤẸ - Portmeirion pottery

Portmeirion, Snowdonia by David Day

Portmeirion, Wales

See more posts like this

Click here to follow our other socials!

Portmeirion CHEF CATS Salt and Pepper Shakers made in BRITAIN

swtradepost || eBay