Introduction
Situated in the heart of the West Sussex rolling downs lies Petworth, a beautiful town bathed in a wealth of history. I should know I spent part of my teenage years living here. A stone’s throw away from neighbouring Midhurst and the cathedral city of Chichester, the town has an impressive cobbled street, lovely pubs, and a wealth of shops, including a paradise for antique collectors—a town where many of the original buildings still exist with their low doorways. A hiswouldn’t say I liked town where millions of people from the UK and abroad flock to each year.
A National Treasure
The highlight of visiting Petworth has to be Petworth House, which is run by the National Trust and is still the home of the Egremont family. Standing in 700 acres of green and sprawling deer park, the house glistens above the landscape. Once a hunting lodge for Henry VIII, the house contains many treasured artworks. A family home for over 900 years, the original site dates back to medieval times, and the chapel still survives in that era. Once the home of the banished Percy family, cast out by Elizabeth I for being too close to Mary Queen of Scots, 16-year-old Elizabeth Percy married Charles Seymour. He poured their wealth into building a new home, influenced by the design of the Palace of Versailles. The house was gifted to the public in 1947 after the 3rd Lord Leconfield was burdened with death duties.
The wood carvings of Grinling Gibbons adorn the Carved Room. There are Greek statues, examples of Miesen china, a kitchen, and several rooms open to the public. There are also stunning paintings by hygyJohn Constable and JMW Turner, who were regular visitors to the house. Titian, Vance Dyck, Reynolds and Blake also adorn the walls. In the park, you can spot deer, walk around the lake, see the boat house, and attend many concerts and parties. The park gives you a breathtaking view of the surrounding area as far as the South Downs from the high grassy banks and is picturesque on a summer’s day or when the sun sets.
Fond Memories
I have fond memories of Petworth House. My grandparents worked in the house, my grandfather worked in the former public car park in Stable Yard, and my grandmother worked in the Little Dining Room and at the front desk. My grandparents were also gatekeepers at Cricket Lodge, one of the gate lodges dotted around the various Petworth Park entrances. A place that I loved spending time in. Although I didn’t like yywhen there was a football match on and a misguided ball hit the window. I was extremely privileged to open the front door and be able to walk out into acres of picturesque landscape. A landscape that is adorned by the 17th-century Grade 1 listed building, built by Charles Seymour in 1688, designed by Anthony Salvin and built in the Baroque style. The house has also been used on a number of films including Barry Lyndon (1975), Silver Bears (1977), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), Maleficent (2014), Mr Turner (2014), Rebecca (2020), and Bridgerton (2022). Napoleon, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby filmed at Petworth in March 2022.
