Virtual Portmeirion menu bar

 

Timeline of Portmeirion-related events

NOTE: Please do not panic over renovations done at Portmeirion. Great care is taken to make sure that the exteriors of the buildings are not changed, and the integrity of the village is left intact. Keep in mind that the cottages were rather roughly put together when they were first built, so they have had to have further renovation and updating over the years. This timeline is provided for those who have an architectural interest in the evolution of the buildings or in the use of the village as a film/tv location. Links below lead to more information and/or photos.

1126

Original Castell Deudraeth built

1830s

White Horses built

1840s

Current Castell Deudraeth built

1862

Mansion, Gardener's bothy, and stables completed by Mr. J. A. Westmacott

1869?

Original Castell Deudraeth razed by Sir William Fothergill Cook

1883

Birth of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis

1925

Conversion of Mansion into original Hotel, Gardener's bothy into Mermaid Cottage, and the stables into Salutation

1925-26

Angel and Neptune built

1926

Hotel opened at Easter; Watch House built

1927-28

Campanile and Prior's Lodging built

1928-29

Government House built

1929

Toll House built

1930

Stone version of Amis Reunis built into the quay

1930s

Hercules Hall reerected; Pilot House, Battery Cottage, Dolphin/Royal Dolphin, Fountain and Anchor, Trinity House built

1933-34

Chantry built

1933

Bertrand Russell wrote "Freedom and Organization in 1814-1914" - in the library at the Castell Deudraeth

1935

White Horses renovated

1937-38

Camera Obscura built

1941

Noel Coward wrote "Blithe Spirit" during a one week stay in May 1941; Kipps (starring Michael Redgrave) filmed on the peninsula

War time restrictions on building and renovation (1939-1953)

1954

Lighthouse built

1954-55

Gate House built

1956-57

Telford's Tower

1958

Bristol Colonnade reerected on the green; High Cloister built; Sir Clough received Commander of the British Empire

1958-59

Bridge House built

1959

Pantheon built; Five episodes of Danger Man/Secret Agent (starring Patrick McGoohan) series filmed

1960

Belvedere built

1961-1962

Chantry Row built

1962

Playhouse built

1963

Triumphal Arch and Gothic Pavilion built

1963-64

Arches built

1964

Gloriette built

1964-65

Unicorn built

1966

Villa Winch and Piazza built

1966

Filming of "The Prisoner" (starring Patrick McGoohan) series

1968-70

Cliff House built

1971

Clough Williams-Ellis knighted for "services to architecture and the environment"

1973

Portmeirion officially scheduled "as of architectural and historic importance"

1976

50th Anniversary of Portmeirion; Scenes from Dr. Who series episode "The Masque of Mandragora" filmed

1977

Toll Booth built

1978

Terrace Self-Service Restaurant built

1978

Death of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis on June 7th

1980

Episode of "Citizen Smith" series filmed

1981

Hotel destroyed by fire; Government House renovated; Scenes for "Brideshead Revisited" mini-series filmed

1982

Dolphin/Royal Dolphin renovated

1983

Centenary Gazebo opened

1984

Death of Lady Williams-Ellis; Trinity and Mermaid renovated; Episode of "The Tripods" series filmed

1985

Chantry and Priors Lodging renovated

1986

Toll House renovated

1987

Bristol Colonnade renovated

1988

Hotel reopened; Episode of "Bread" series filmed

1989

Bridge House renovated

1990

Pantheon and Pilot House renovated

1991

Scenes for "Under Suspicion" (starring Liam Neeson) filmed

1992

Fountain and Anchor renovated

1993

Campanile, Unicorn, and Chantry Row renovated

1994

Telford's Tower renovated

1995

Salutation renovated

1996

Cliff House Annexe renovated

1996

Lighthouse renovated

1997

Infrastructure redone Jan-Feb

1997

generator installed May 15

1997

coach park gates installed

1998

Neptune Cottage renovated and converted into Neptune Suite and Neptune 1

1998

Renovation of Castell Deudraeth begins, Autumn

1998

Terrace Self-Service Restaurant renovated, Jan-Mar

1998

Town Hall Annexe-- prefabricated structure replaced with a new building called the Tudor Room; Opened May 21

1999

Gazebo painted terracotta and reroofed

1999

Second toll booth added; mirror image of the original one

1999

The Prisoner Shop (Round House) renovated and reopened

2001 Belvedere repainted a darker pink
2001 Castell Deudraeth renovated and opended in June 2001
2002 Grates added to bottom of fish pond
2002 Final episode of Cold Feet filmed on the beach past White Horses
   


Home | What's New | About This Site | Contacts | Discussion Group
General Information | Media | Tours & Movies | Village Database | Online Shop | Free Downloads | Local Businesses
Special Information | Maps | Virtual Postcards | FAQ | Games & Puzzles | Castell Deudraeth | Plas Brondanw