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Position: 52°54’46.96″ N 4°5’55.74″ W
Portmerion, Wales, served as the location for one of the greatest cult TV shows from the 1960s, The Prisoner. Ever since I was a kid terrified by the giant beach ball sent to catch would be escapees I have wanted to visit there.
The show’s set up revolved around a spy, Patrick McGoohan as Number 6, who attempts to resign from some very British secret service. He’s too valuable, so he is kidnapped and taken to ‘The Village’. There, Number 6 finds an oddly off-balance cheerfulness, strange expressions like ‘be seeing you’, and the use of ‘credits’ instead of money. It’s a new culture, but, he’s assured, he’ll get used to it.
Episode 1
Watching the first episode again, the original 1960s paranoia of government overreach might be recast for today’s audiences. Imagine McGoohan’s character as a noob on social media, say Facebook or Twitter. The rules for social conduct and expression aren’t the same as regular life. Meanwhile, faceless bureaucrats are watching and recording your every move, your every conversation, your every transaction. As Number 2 tells Number 6, ”There’s not much we don’t know about you, but one likes to know everything.” Given the ineptitude of our governments, it’s no wonder we’re exchanging one paranoia for another. For more on this go watch The President’s Analyst with James Coburn.
The Prisoner’s exteriors were all shot at Portmerion. Designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975, Portmerion is all Venetian whimsy and bright colors. Everywhere you turn you find little treats for the eye: statues, bas relief carvings, or a combination of textures that catch the light just so. Established as a holiday village, you can still rent rooms or cottages there for a few days or weeks. It’s a popular destination for weddings, if you’re so inclined.
Photos
Fifty years since The Prisoner first appeared, the village is in very good shape. As you’ll see in the photos, the gardens and flowers are absolutely lovely. I’ve included a couple of shots from the original show for comparison. Be seeing you…
It’s simply lovely! Like a dream or a memory of a European holiday brought to love in Wales 😍😍
Carol was quite surprised by it and said it was well worth visiting.
Beautiful! We were in Wales last September and loved it. Looks like we should plan a return trip. Be safe!
Wales is lovely, especially when the schools are back in session! It’s a little busy this time of year.
i loved that show.
thanks for the pics they are great
The show is on YouTube for free now. At least in the U.K.