Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Triumphal Arch Including Adjoining Service Block to the NW
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
- 52.91395, -4.09968
- Cadw reference
- 4887
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
At the start of the northern (service) access road leading to and from the village, adjoining the small piazza.
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.
Designed and built 1962-3 as an entrance and focus for a new service road which was laid out at that time. It incorporates an early C19 wooden model for a series of lead caryatids.
Exterior
Triumphal gateway in Rococo style. Stuccoed brick with raised stucco quoins and banding. Rusticated arch over carriageway beneath high pediment inscribed by 2 massive scrolls with a semi-circular top. In the centre of the pediment is a round headed niche, with shell cartouche over. The niche contains a classical female figure. Applied cartouches of cast concrete to each pier flanking the arch. This archway, by which the visitor may leave the village, complements the 2 entrance gateways.
Adjoining the gateway to the NW is a single-storey service block with rendered elevations and mono-pitch corrugated iron roof. The block has three round-arched entrances with boarded doors and vertically-slatted upper sections; a small link section of wall adjoins stepped-down to the L with small road-arched entrance and boarded door.
Reason for designation
Listed as a well-conceived Rococo-style arch; one of a number of buildings 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
- The Piazza, Including Adjoining Playhouse Central Vase MonumentDomesticunder 1 mi
- SalutationCommercialunder 1 mi
- Telford's Tower, Including Adjoining Walls and ArchesCommemorativeunder 1 mi
- GlorietteDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.