Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Observatory Tower
Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Maritime
- Date of designation
- 14 January 1971
- Locality
- Portmeirion
- Community
- Penrhyndeudraeth
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.91083, -4.09933
- Cadw reference
- 4893
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid 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
Prominently sited on the shore-line approximately 300m S of Portmeirion Hotel.
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.
The Observatory Tower was built 1936-7 to designs of October 1935. In 1939 a Camera Obscura, alledgedly taken from a German U-boat, was installed on the top floor. As in several other of Sir Clough's buildings at Portmeirion, most notably the Gloriette, the detail of the tower has been deliberately scaled down in order to increase its apparent size.
Exterior
Rectangular tower of whitewashed stone. Of four stages, the 3-storey lower section with small balcony at top level facing N (towards the village). The rendered fourth storey is slightly inset, and has window openings to each face having minute external slatted wooden shutters; plain glazing. Shaped shingle roof with box like structure above with star finial over; wide eaves. The ground floor has an arched entrance to the N face and a double-arched, balustraded opening to the E; arched entrance to the second storey on the W face, accessed via a straight flight of external stone steps; small slit-like windows asymmetrically placed to all faces.
Reason for designation
Listed as a finely-conceived and distinctive tower; 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
- Statue of NelsonCommemorativeunder 1 mi
- White HorsesDomesticunder 1 mi
- Portmeirion Hotel Including Revetment, Balustrade and Sculptures to the Upper TerraceCommercialunder 1 mi
- Dovecote Above Portmeirion HotelGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.