Petworth: Sussex towns and villages

Petworth

Nick Hawkes

Treasure trove

Petworth house is not only home to an incredible collection of paintings, including works by Van Dyck, Turner, Blake and Reynolds, but also has an incredible collection below stairs. In the servants quarters, there is a copper batterie de cuisine made up of more than 1,000 pieces.

Shop ‘til you drop

Petworth has an international reputation as a leading antiques centre, with over 30 shops dotted around the town. There are also various fairs in the town throughout the year.

All the fun of the fair

Every year on 20 November (St. Edmund’s Day), the market square is closed to traffic, so that a fair can take place. This is an ancient tradition, dating back to before 1275, when it used to last up to nine days. In an issue of The London Gazette newspaper, dated November 1666, an announcement appeared that the fair would not be held that year, because the country was still infected with the plague.

Targeted

During World War II, a German Heinkel 111 plane flew over Petworth. It approached from the south, aiming for Petworth House, which it missed, but one of the three bombs that it dropped bounced off a tree and landed on the Petworth Boy’s School, killing 28 boys, a teacher and the headmaster.

Go

Goodwood Racecourse

Whether you like your horse power from equines or cars, Goodwood is the place for you

01243 755055; www.goodwood.co.uk

Eat

The Leconfield

The very best ingredients simply combined, in an informal yet smart setting

01798 345111; www.theleconfield.co.uk

Drink

The Stag

The quintessential Sussex pub – local and guest ales, and a fantastic atmosphere

01403 820241; www.staginnpetworth.co.uk

Sleep

The Horse Guards Inn

A 300-year-old inn on the edge of Petworth Park. A series of rambling and intimate rooms, decorated with old prints, quirky pieces and fresh flowers

01798 342332; www.thehorseguardsinn.co.uk

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Notable neighbours: Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music and actress Honeysuckle Weekes both live nearby

Getting there: The nearest station is in Pulborough, four miles away. Petworth is on the A272 and A283