Most people will recognise these words from the song in the musical
‘The King and I” They are sung by Anna when she introduces herself to
the children of the King of Siam
In this instance it isnt people
we are getting to know, but the gem of an idea by Sir Clough Williams -
Ellis -Porthmerion”.
The opportunity
to learn more about Porthmeirion arose when John Podmore rang me and said he had
booked Government House for a week and was
inviting some friends with a common interest to stay there. The common
interest was Photography the idea appealed to me and I asked to be
included.
At the time June 7th seemed a
long way ahead, but at last it arrived and the car well loaded with
luggage, camera bag, and equipment for processing E6, was on its way.
had been to Pertmeirion a number of times asa ‘day
visitor, but ‘this as
different, I was
to be a resident.
On arrival I
met John and Mema and was introduced to the rest of the party, nine in
all, The, accomodation in Government House was excellent and as we were
self catering, we could have meals when we liked, so set meal times did
not interfere with the taking of pictures.
What a
difference a common interest makes when a group of. strangers. find
themselves sharing accomodation. We even managed to all share the kitchen
to prepare and ‘cook our meals, not only with one another, but with part
of the kitchen being used on one occasion with two lots of equipment
processing E6 films.
The weather
was good in parts and this suited our needs9 it worked like this on firre days take pictures and in the evening
process them, next day if wet cut and mount slides and project them,
rejecting the slides not concidered good enough Next fine day take
pictures to replace the ones rejected and so the cycle continued.
Time now to
explain the scene inside Government House at one of our processing
sessions. Those concerned were John Podmore, Mac & Jean and myse1f.
Closely observed by, John Ruffel, the Editor. of the Midland Federations
Spotlight.
Mac and John
were operating a Jobo doing 3 x 36 exp
films at a time and I was using my home made equipment which is
electronically controlled to 38C +/-
half a deg. This gear is the brain child of my colleague Bob Lewis, who is
National Membership Secretary of the Colour Reversal Club.’ Mac and John
were using 3 bath Photocolor Chrome 6 chemistry and I was using the 7 bath
Photoworld kit.
After
processing, the dinning room was a hive of industry with Mac cutting the
frames, and June and I fitting the mounts. At projection sessions we were
able to compare results especially as Mac and I were using Fuji 00 and at
times taking our shots at the same time.
Half way
through the week we were joined by Vic Cox, an artist’ and near
neighbour of John and Mema’s. Vic was a great help when we were
projecting our slides, he was able to give the artist’s view of our
effort’s. His comments at times were amusing, he would come out with
comments such as “Why didn’t you leave, the telegraph pole out” or
“Why not get the shadow falling to cover the offending patch”? He
would then show us his. Painting of the scene we had just been projecting,
which he had painted that day and, true enough, the brush, can be used to
brush offending parts away. We enjoyed Vic’s comments, they
were so good-humoured and constructive.
By now the
difference between being a day visitor and a resident was becoming more
and more obvious I was able to walk about the village at 7 am and in the
late evening without another person in sight, so pictures were possible of
minute details of Sir Clough’s overall plan.
I wonder how
many of the visitors walking around the village were aware, of Sir
Cough’s achievements in conservation, treasures which but for
Portmeirion, would have been lost forever They include the 17th century
plaster ceiling in the Hercules Hall, saved when Emrol Hall, Flintshire
was demolished. This unique barrel vaulted 17th century sculptured ceiling
in the Ballroom of the mansion was taken down and cut carefully into
pieces which were able to be transported to its new home. The ceiling was
“Knocked down” for £13.00 at the auction. This figure grew to several
thousands by the time the ceiling and other parts of the Ballroom were
re-built into what is now the Town Hall, Portmeirion..
Other
treasures saved inc1uded,the Bristol Colannade, the upper half of the
music room fireplace from the Cheshire Mansion at Dawpool, and many other
statues, niaques, and ironwork, that can be seen whilst walking around the
village Each of these items are there to be photographed and provide a
delightful kaleidoscope which helps to tell the story of Portmeirion.
Pictures
appear around every corner of the village and when a subject is. needed
there is the estuary with its ever changing moods, the rock pools, and the
woodland walks through countless rhododendrons and Azaleas.
To
appreciate Portmeirion and its immediate surroundings is to understand
what its Architect was aiming at when he started the project. Fe was
luckier than most, he lived to see the project completed.
The
group staying at Government House took full advantage of the opportunity
to take pictures and at the end of the week had close on 500
transparencies to prove it.
We
started with a song and finished with a quotation from Architecture for
Everyone, BBC TV 1979 ~‘The challenge - or the modern architect is the
same as the challenge for all of us in our lives, to make out of the
ordinary, something out-of-the ordinary!!?
How
fortunate for all of us that Sir Clough-Ellis, .did just that.