Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Cliff House Including Annex
Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Portmeirion, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, designated on 23 August 2002.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 23 August 2002
- Locality
- Portmeirion
- Community
- Penrhyndeudraeth
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.91370, -4.09719
- Cadw reference
- 26873
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1795 map "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · Sheet 7. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
At the eastern edge of the village, in front, and to the E of, the Gatehouse.
History
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.
Built 1969, with an annex added in 1971 (designed 1967 and 1970 respectively). CWE's last major building at Portmeirion.
Exterior
Two-storey rectangular main house with single-storey, flat-roofed annex adjoining to the NE; in theatrical Georgian style. Rendered elevations, the main house with hipped slate roof and deep eaves. The main house has symmetrical, three-bay elevations, those to the E and W longer; of these the W elevation is the entrance front. This has a central entrance with part-glazed door and flanking 12-pane sashes, the whole with Regency-style open iron verandah/porch in front; this has a sloped metal lean-to roof and decorative iron flanking supports. Beyond the porch on both sides are smaller 6-pane outer windows. Three 6-pane windows to the upper floor, that to the centre with flanking external wooden shutters. The windows to the R of the entrance on both floors are blind and are intended purely to achieve symmetry. The N elevation has trompe l'oeil windows; 3 tall arched windows to the ground floor with oval occuli above, the central one with flanking swags; raised plaster architraves and keys, with applied cartouches to the tops of the ground floor arches. Twelve-pane sashes to the S elevation, with a balcony with decorative iron balustrade to the first-floor centre.
The annex has a screen wall facing W and thereby hiding a flat roof. Wide central entrance with classical surround and entablature, surmounted by central and flanking finials; part-glazed doors. Narrow 6-pane vertical rectangular windows to either side of the entrance.
Reason for designation
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.
Nearby in the register
- Forecourt Walls and Balustrading at Cliff HouseGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Statue of HuntsmanGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- The Gate HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Former Tollhouse (Now Public Telephone Kiosk)Gardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.