Portmeirion attracts over 200,000 visitors annually
This year marks exactly one hundred years since the colorful village of Portmeirion first opened.
Construction of the village began in Minffordd near Penrhyndeudraeth by architect Clough Williams-Ellis in 1925.
The location draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and has served as the setting for several famous television series.
"This is an incredibly unique place... you see something new every time," said Meurig Jones, location manager at Portmeirion.
A 'fascinating and versatile' man
In 1925, architect Clough Williams-Ellis found the ideal site for Portmeirion.
He had been searching for a suitable location for his ideal village for several years.
He began developing the site, and on 2 April 1926, Portmeirion Hotel opened for the first time.
According to his grandson Robin Llywelyn, who is also managing director of Portmeirion, his grandfather was "quite a character."
"He collected things from everywhere and experimented with different architectural styles," he said.
"He took inspiration from some Italian seaside villages, but there is much more to the place than that.
"So he built the place bit by bit as he saw fit, and of course it’s a kind of mixture, a bit of a hodgepodge - but the fact is it all works as a unity."
Robin Llywelyn, managing director of Portmeirion, is also the founder’s grandson.
Describing his grandfather, Mr Llywelyn said he was a very unique man.
"My grandfather was a very interesting and versatile man.
"He had a great interest in landscaping and architecture... yet he had no formal background in architecture.
"He was expelled from college after three months for breaking the rules, but the fact is that was his ambition and vision.
"I think he was more of an artist than an architect, but his canvas was the landscape and his materials were bricks, stones and colour."
New festival to celebrate Portmeirion’s centenary
"Portmeirion is a special place"
Today, a charity owns Portmeirion, with a company managing its operations and maintenance.
This was a decision made by Clough Williams-Ellis.
"It was very important to my grandfather that the place was in charitable ownership, because this gave him security for the future," said Mr Llywelyn.
The last building on the site was constructed in 1976 when Mr Williams-Ellis was 93 years old.
"More resilient for the future"
Portmeirion has been a location for several television productions.
The village was the setting for the 1960s TV series The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan.
The famous series Doctor Who has also used the village in Gwynedd as a filming location.
Portmeirion is also renowned for its pottery, with Portmeirion tableware becoming common in homes across the country in the 1960s.
"The products from the popular range remain on sale at Portmeirion," said Ian Roberts, finance director of the business.
Today, Portmeirion is a major local employer, with over 200 staff.
"The money generated at Portmeirion is reinvested back into the buildings," said Ian Roberts.
"All these buildings are quite old, so there are significant costs to update and maintain them," he added.
"We've tried to ensure the business is a bit more resilient for the future. This year, to mark the centenary, we have four concerts featuring major artists."
Mr Roberts explained that the business has several components.
"There are three parts to the business to some extent - daily visitors who come here. Over 200,000 day visitors come here every year.
"We have accommodation, with over 70 places for people to stay, and several restaurants as well.
"It’s a relatively complex business with several facets, but all sides work together.
"There are always challenges... something always comes up, but we have to ensure what we offer customers is suitable and meets their needs."
Another element is events, with dozens of couples marrying there every year.
Delyth Wyre is responsible for organising weddings and events at Portmeirion - a very important aspect of the place, she said.
"It’s very important that we have events at Portmeirion and that they happen throughout the year, including the quieter winter months," she said.
"We do between 60 and 80 weddings a year, ranging from small weddings of two people to weddings of up to 120 guests.
"It’s a unique place. Many people who marry or come here have some kind of connection. Many local people also marry here.
"I have a couple getting married here in June, both living in Australia."
Meurig Jones has worked at Portmeirion for over 20 years.
With the village attracting thousands of tourists annually, Meurig Jones, location manager at Portmeirion, said Welsh is an essential part of the business.
"Portmeirion is very important to the Welsh language because we are delighted to be here in Snowdonia, where so many people speak Welsh.
"Over 90% of the people who work with us are bilingual."
He added:
"This is an incredibly unique place.
"What inspired me when I came here was understanding and learning more about why Clough built the place and how he did it.
"It also has 100 years of special history with famous people coming here.
"We haven’t changed much in the 20 years I’ve been here.
"Because the place was already built by then... I think what’s good about Portmeirion is that it hasn’t changed since Clough’s time.
"People who come back often to see us find something new, and that’s what Clough wanted... you see something new every time."
A festival will be held in the village this year to mark 100 years since Portmeirion first opened.
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