Neptune

Cadw's description

Location

Opposite the Town Hall, adjoining Angel.

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.

Neptune and the adjoining Angel were built in Arts and Crafts idiom in 1926; they represent the earliest of the village buildings designed by CWE and were designated `Block A' and `Block B' in early drawings. Neptune originally had garage accommodation occupying its ground floor, enough to house seven vehicles; it is therefore additionally described as the `Garage Block' on some early plans. In the early 1960s the ground floor was remodelled and converted into a shop. It currently serves as a book shop.

Exterior

Two-storey rectangular building in sub-medieval vernacular style. Rendered elevations with slightly oversailing upper floor carried on corbels on the rear (E) elevation; slate roof with tall rendered chimney to the R (S) gable end. The front, W, elevation has a central round-arched shop entrance with recessed part-glazed doors (small-pane upper sections). To the R of this is a small square light with a large 2-part shop window beyond; this consists of a canted, flat-roofed bay window to the L with a flush continuation to the R; multi-pane glazing. To the L of the entrance is a second canted wooden bay with 6-pane sections; 2-part 12-pane windows flank this to R and L. The upper storey has three 2-light leaded windows to the centre and 2-single light windows to the R; further slit-like window to the far L.

The rear elevation has a recessed arch to the centre with 12-pane fixed window within. There are 3 small 6-pane windows to the R of this and a tall, multi-pane window to the L, the latter with additional small, square light beyond. Ascending to the upper floor from R to L from the central arched window, is a plain external wooden stair; part-boarded upper entrance with flanking leaded windows as before; further, similar window to the R. There are various applied plaques to the exterior.

Reason for designation

Listed as an well-composed Arts and Crafts building, one of the earliest of a number of buildings and structures designed by the eminent architect and conservationist Sir Clough Williams-Ellis for his visionary Portmeirion villiage.

Group value with other listed items at Portmeirion.