From gift shop designs for the holiday village in north Wales, Portmeirion pottery evolved to a global business, thanks in large part to the design flair of Susan Williams-Ellis. She captured the spirit of the kitchens and dining rooms of the 1960s and '70s with bold new shapes and designs that could be both modern and traditional. 'Botanic Garden', introduced in 1972, used old flower prints with contemporary shapes and high quality manufacture, and has remained in production for 40 years. In the 21st century the company has moved vigorously forwards with a new generation of designers and a marketplace in over 50 countries.

Portmeirion village is a whimsical seaside tourist destination on the west coast of Wales, attracting 250,000 visitors annually. A retirement project by an eccentric British architect named Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, this "home for fallen buildings" is a fascinating architectural garden for day visitors and an elaborate resort for overnight guests. Portmeirion is famous as the shooting location for the 1960s cult television series "The Prisoner," starring Patrick McGoohan. Puzzling Portmeirion is an involving, insightful guidebook that explores Sir Clough's trailblazing experiments in virtual reality, his subtle but powerful time-warping and space-folding tricks, the little-known myths and legends echoing down every footpath, and the myriad restless spirits at play. Eccentric globe-trotters will have their eyes opened, curiosities piqued, intellects tickled, feet motivated, and pens recording the most fascinating entries in their travel diaries, bar none.

The Times called Portmeirion 'the last folly of the Western World' while the Guardian saw it as 'a giant gnomes' village'. For eccentric architect Clough Williams-Ellis, the man who designed and built the resort, it was 'propaganda for good manners,' a statement of how planned development could enhance rather than destroy its environment. And for the quarter of a million visitors a year who make the trip to this Italianate village in North-West Wales, it's quite simply one of the most magical places on Earth. It was here Noel Coward wrote his comedy Blithe Spirit , Patrick McGoohan filmed the legendary 1960s TV series The Prisoner and George Harrison celebrated his 50th birthday. It's the kind of place where Larry Adler gave informal concerts to other guests and hotel staff, Ingrid Bergman could be found talking movies with Bertrand Russell, and where royalty - from Edward VIII to King Zog of Albania - would join the general public in seeking escape from the modern world. Here too was born the world-famous Portmeirion Pottery, founded by Clough's daughter, Susan William-Ellis, and still one of Britain's leading ceramics companies nearly a half-century on. The book Portmeirion is published to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the opening of the resort in 1926. Lavishly illustrated with many unpublished and rare photographs, plans and drawings, it is the first book to cover the whole story of the village, the extensive gardens both at Portmeirion and Plas Brondanw, the Williams-Ellis family home, Portmeirion Pottery as well as Clough himself. 250 colour & 63 b/w illustrations

This English-language book reflects the undemanding concepts of Portmeirion � Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, the gifted creator of the village, himself described his intentions as being of a 'gay, light-opera sort of approach'. Rob Piercy � who has grown up in the area � has created a personal, light-hearted insight into his Portmeirion. (Welsh-language version also available: 9781845273781

Whether you're after a stroll through the woods in springtime, a canoe safari on the Norfolk Broads, a day at the caber-tossing Highland Games or afternoon tea at a fancy hotel, this book will lead you to the best holiday destinations and experiences Great Britain and Ireland have to offer. Its easy-to-use season-by-season format and six themes - History and Heritage; Wildlife and Landscape; Cities, Towns and Villages; Outdoor Activities; Family Getaways; and Festivals and Events - make planning your time on these beautiful isles easier than ever.

This guide covers everything, from Wales' pumping nightlife and rural cosmopolitanism to its crags and castles. Critical reviews are given on accommodation and restaurants suiting all pockets, from budget to luxury. There are detailed descriptions of numerous walks, from gentle lakeside strolls to serious mountain scrambles, and water sports, including surfing and the locally pioneered sport of coasteering.

Theme parks break attendance numbers with the promise of “stepping inside” a film’s world. Pop-up “experiences” are a regular part of promotional cycles. All this is accepted in the contemporary media environment—but why? What is the appeal of film tourism, and what can its rise tell us about contemporary fandom? Fan Sites explores why and how we experience film and television-related places, and what the growth of this practice means for contemporary fandom. Through four case studies—Game of Thrones tourism in Dubrovnik, Croatia and Northern Ireland, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks in Orlando, Florida, fandom of The Prisoner in Portmeirion, Wales, and Friends events in the United Kingdom and United States—this book presents a multifaceted look at the ways place and fandom interact today. Fan Sites explores the different relationships that fans build with these places of fandom, from the exploratory knowledge-building of Game of Thrones fans on vacation, the appreciative evaluations of Harry Potter fans at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, to the frequent “homecoming” visits of Prisoner fans, who see Portmeirion as a “safe vault” and the home of their fandom. Including engaging accounts of real fans at each location, Fan Sites addresses what the rise of fan tourism and places of fandom might mean for the future of fandom and its relationship with the media industry.

A bilingual booklet telling the fascinating story of the Italianite village of Portmeirion in North Wales. Contains full-color illustrations and interesting facts on every page. Ideal for all ages.

Today when we hear the word “craft,” a whole host of things come immediately to mind: microbreweries, artisanal cheeses, and an array of handmade objects. Craft has become so overused, that it can grate on our ears as pretentious and strain our credulity. But its overuse also reveals just how compelling craft has become in modern life. In The Shape of Craft, Ezra Shales explores some of the key questions of craft: who makes it, what do we mean when we think about a crafted object, where and when crafted objects are made, and what this all means to our understanding of craft. He argues that, beyond the clichés, craft still adds texture to sterile modern homes and it provides many people with a livelihood, not just a hobby. Along the way, Shales upends our definition of what is handcrafted or authentic, revealing the contradictions in our expectations of craft. Craft is—and isn’t—what we think.