Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Watch House
Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 14 January 1971
- Locality
- Portmeirion
- Community
- Penrhyndeudraeth
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.91304, -4.09856
- Cadw reference
- 4866
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
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1795 "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).
Cadw's description
Location
Dramatically sited on the cliff top overlooking the hotel and bay.
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 in 1925-6 as one of the earliest of the village buildings at Portmeirion. The roof received its present hipped form c1963; it had formerly been pantiled.
Exterior
Small, single storey building of vernacular cottage character; of whitened rubble with shallow, hipped slate roof. Tall, round lateral chimney with conical cap. The Seaward end (SE-facing) is built out on tapering octagonal columns as a loggia. Small-pane glazing within, with French windows to the centre; small asymmetrically-placed windows with small-pane glazing to the long side elevations.
Reason for designation
Listed as one of the earliest and most dramatically-sited of the village buildings; one 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.
Nearby in the register
- Government HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Aedicular Niche to the N of the Swimming PoolGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Dolphin (Including Royal Dolphin)Domesticunder 1 mi
- Campanile (Also Called The Bell Tower)Domesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.