History of Portmeirion

Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis,born at Gayton, Northamptonshire on 28 May the second son of the Rev. John Clough Williams-Ellis and Hilda Greaves. Best known for The Portmeirion Village built on his own private peninsula on the coast of Snowdonia between 1925 to 1976. He built the village to show that the development of a naturally beautiful site need not lead to its defilement and that architectural good manners could be good business. His lifelong concern was with Architecture, Landscape Design, the protection of Rural Wales and Conservation generally. At Portmeirion he gave his ideas physical and practical expression. The Village went on to become his most famous work and one of the most successful British architectural projects of the 20th century.

The Beginning of Portmeirion Pottery

His daughter Susan, who studied art under Henry Moore, began to design distinctive pottery for sale in the village after her marriage to Euan Cooper-Willis.
In 1972 saw the first production of Botanic Garden in their own factory. Now one of the worlds best selling multi-motif tableware based on natural history illustrations of flora and butterflies from the 19th century and the beginning of the companys phenomanal success.

Portmeirion Pottery
Tableware, Giftware And Cookware

The beauty of the Portmeirion Pottery collection of tableware, giftware and cookware, stems from Susan Williams-Ellis' ability to design and model shapes that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, Susan has always expected her pottery designs, both shapes and pattern, to fit comfortably with everyday life. Since the 1960s Susan has created all the shapes by turning the originals by hand from which the moulds were produced. The design department continues to create new products, shapes and innovative ranges under the watchful eye of Susan, with the modelling department maintaining the highest standard of design.

The company are a significant force in the pottery industry with a strong international following and an established reputation for high quality and innovative design. The company manufactures an extensive range of tableware, cookware, kitchenware and giftware which are marketed with a wide range of co-ordinating accessories in diverse materials. In the UK, Portmeirion Pottery is sold by a wide spectrum of good quality retailers, primarily specialists such as Kings and Queens and department stores.

Over the past few years the introduction of the "Botanic Roses" Collection and the extensions to the exsisting ranges including the new Aga Range and Jewellery Collection in Botanic Garden have been extremely well received and has enabled the company to broaden its customer base into the casual, gift and bridal markets.

This trend has continued into 2006 with giftranges such as Crazy Daisy and Up the Garden Path being launched mid year and the more traditional Botanic Blue also becoming available at the same time.

The majority of tableware, cookware, kitchenware and giftware produced is the work of Designer, Susan Williams-Ellis and more recently her daughters Anwyl Cooper-Willis and Angharad Menna, In addition to "The Botanic Garden", which has been continually reviewed and improved since its launch in 1972, the ground-breaking new Collections launched recently, have been very much a team effort.

Other designs include the popular fruit pattern "Pomona", launched in 1982 and the holiday pattern "The Holly and the Ivy", introduced in 1996.

Complementary, non-ceramic products which include placemats, chopping boards, trays, textiles, glassware, candles and more recently jewellery have been designed and specified by Portmeirion and sourced to complement the ceramic products.

As trends change so does Portmeirion. The recent increase of interest in good food and fine dinning made popular by the new generation of TV chefs has catapulted the functional into the fachionable. Inovative ranges such as those produced by Sophie Conran in her new range at Portmeirion is a reflection of this trend.

The Word Portmeirion is also about the village as well as the pottery and it two has many things woth exploring. Famous as the location of the 1960s TV series The Prisoner it is host to gatherings and meetings by enthusiasts. Set in brethtaking Welsh countryside the Village is a major attraction with thousands of visitors every year.

To learn about the Prisoner TV series ot attractions in and Near Portmeirion Village please use the links below
The Prisoner

Portmeirion Village and attractions near Portmeirion