Letters from Clough Williams-Ellis

Twenty letters and cards, 1935-1960, from the architect Clough Williams-Ellis to the topographer Edmund Vale, Bethesda (ff. 1-16, 18-20, 23-27, 29-35), some discussing the proposed publication of the former's Britain and the Beast (London, 1937), to which Vale was a contributor (ff. 1-20 passim).
Also included are seven letters and cards (one incomplete), 1948-1959, from the architect's sister-in-law, Cecily Williams-Ellis, to Vale, mostly relating to the activities of the Caernarvonshire Branch of the Council for the Preservation of Rural Wales (ff. 36-39, 41-45); as well as three carbon copies of letters from Vale, 1937, 1949 (ff. 17, 21, 40). There are also references to the bombing school at Porth Neigwl (f. 14), film production in Wales (ff. 27-29), the landscape architect Dame Sylvia Crowe (ff. 33), and to Portmeirion (ff. 26, 31, 35).

Sir Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis was an architect and creator of Portmeirion village, with interests ranging from architecture, landscaping and preservation of the countryside to landscaping of trunk roads and writing.
Clough Williams-Ellis was born on the 28th of May, 1883, and educated at Oundle and Trinity College, Cambridge. He began training as an architect in London but within three months left for his first commission.
His most famous project was Portmeirion village in North Wales, but other major works include Llangoed Castle; Oare House; Stowe School; Bishop's Stortford College Chapel; the Lloyd George Mausoleum, Museum, and Westminster Abbey Memorial; Rhiwlas; Voelas; Nantclwyd Hall and Dalton Hall. He was also involved in many lesser projects, including churches, schools, village halls and civic amenities, smaller houses, hotels, monuments and garden follies.
Sir Clough Williams-Ellis was a member of numerous committees, among them the National Parks Committee, National Trust Committee for Wales and the Trunk Road Advisory Committee. He was also the Vice-President of the Council for the Preservation of Rural Wales and a member of the Athenaeum Club in London.
A prolific writer, the following publications are but a few examples of his works: England and the Octopus (London, [1928]), The Architect (London, 1929), Town and Country Planning (1951), Portmeirion - the Place and its Meaning (London, [1963], Roads in the Landscape (1967), Architect Errant (London, 1971), and Around the World in Ninety Years (Portmeirion, 1978).
He died on the 8th of April, 1978.

Cecily William-Ellis was a founder, and for 40 years the Chairman, of the Caernarfonshire branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales. She later became President of the Branch. She was also a long-serving nominated member of the Snowdonia National Park Committee. Among her campaigns was the undergrounding of the power cable across the Traeth Mawr and the thwarting of the former Central Electricity Authority's scheme to build hydro-electric schemes on Welsh rivers. She was awarded the MBE in 1982. She died in 1992 at the age of 92.

Arranged at NLW as follows: Clough Williams-Ellis letters; Cecily Williams-Ellis letters.

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Bloomsbury Book Auctions; London; Purchased at auction, lot 234; 20 June 2002; 0200213278.

Sir Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis was an architect and creator of Portmeirion village, with interests ranging from architecture, landscaping and preservation of the countryside to landscaping of trunk roads and writing.
Clough Williams-Ellis was born on the 28th of May, 1883, and educated at Oundle and Trinity College, Cambridge. He began training as an architect in London but within three months left for his first commission.
His most famous project was Portmeirion village in North Wales, but other major works include Llangoed Castle; Oare House; Stowe School; Bishop's Stortford College Chapel; the Lloyd George Mausoleum, Museum, and Westminster Abbey Memorial; Rhiwlas; Voelas; Nantclwyd Hall and Dalton Hall. He was also involved in many lesser projects, including churches, schools, village halls and civic amenities, smaller houses, hotels, monuments and garden follies.
Sir Clough Williams-Ellis was a member of numerous committees, among them the National Parks Committee, National Trust Committee for Wales and the Trunk Road Advisory Committee. He was also the Vice-President of the Council for the Preservation of Rural Wales and a member of the Athenaeum Club in London.
A prolific writer, the following publications are but a few examples of his works: England and the Octopus (London, [1928]), The Architect (London, 1929), Town and Country Planning (1951), Portmeirion - the Place and its Meaning (London, [1963], Roads in the Landscape (1967), Architect Errant (London, 1971), and Around the World in Ninety Years (Portmeirion, 1978).
He died on the 8th of April, 1978.

Cecily William-Ellis was a founder, and for 40 years the Chairman, of the Caernarfonshire branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales. She later became President of the Branch. She was also a long-serving nominated member of the Snowdonia National Park Committee. Among her campaigns was the undergrounding of the power cable across the Traeth Mawr and the thwarting of the former Central Electricity Authority's scheme to build hydro-electric schemes on Welsh rivers. She was awarded the MBE in 1982. She died in 1992 at the age of 92.

Title based on contents.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 23894D.

Folios 35-36, 41, 43 affected by damp.

March 2012.

Description compiled by Maredudd ap Huw, and revised by Rhys Morgan Jones

Usual copyright laws apply.

Item: 1.1 Manuscript Volume (NLW MS 23894D). Action: Condition reviewed. Action identifier: 4275935. Date: 20030207. Authorization: Selected for conservation. Authorizing institution: NLW. Action agent: J. Thomas. Status: Manuscript Volume (NLW MS 23894D) : Typescript sheets and loose manuscript papers, foxing and mould staining on folios 35-36, 41, 43 affected by damp. Institution: WlAbNL.
Item: 1.2 Manuscript Volume (NLW MS 23894D). Action: Conserved. Action identifier: 4275935. Date: 20031219. Authorizing institution: NLW. Action agent: A. Pugh. Status: Manuscript Volume (NLW MS 23894D) : Pages repaired, guarded and filed and lettered in black. Institution: WlAbNL.

Published

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