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 Bandstand was built in 1961 as the `Portmeirion Substation superstructure loggia.' Its function was to house the electricity substation supplying the village. The decorative mermaid panels incorporated here and elsewhere in the village were reused from the Liverpool Old Seaman's Home which was demolished in 1954.

Exterior

The Bandstand is a single-storey classical loggia raised above a substation basement. Rendered elevations with shallow hipped metal roof. Three-bay long and 2-bay short sides with round-headed arches having impost bands, keys and circular spandrel plaques. Entrance to the centre of the inward-facing (NW) long side. The remaining arches have cast-iron decorative mermaid panels to their lower halves.

Adjoining the bandstand to the E are the Hercules Steps. These consist of a long flight of broad, stone-flagged steps which descend in three straight flights down the hillslope. The steps terminate at a part-balustraded parapet wall with stepped waterfall below which overlooks Anchor and Fountain and the lawns in front of them.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as one of a number of buildings and structures erected by the eminent architect and conservationist Sir Clough Williams-Ellis for his visionary Portmeirion villiage.

Group value with other listed items at Portmeirion.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29503734

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy