Wednesday 22nd May 2024 (booking Thursday 21st March 2024)
Described by Constable in the early 19th Century as ‘That House of Art’, Petworth still contains one of the best art collections in Britain, collected by the same family over 900 years.
The State Rooms contain paintings by Hieronymous Bosch, Blake, Teniers, de Koninck, Van Dyck, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Titian, and 20 paintings by Turner including two Turners of Windsor Castle and one of The Thames at Eton. The Carved room features Grinling Gibbons’ work with a series of paintings showing Shakespeare’s plays.
The North Gallery was built to contain the burgeoning art collection and many of the 50 antique marble sculptures, as well as the earliest English globe in existence dating back to 1592. Try not to miss the series of paintings where the ladies’ legs were cut off, now being gradually restored.
(Please click on blue print above to continue reading)
The Servants’ Quarters, including the historic kitchens, show a fascinating glimpse into the life of the staff. Our visit is a Free Flow tour, so please ask the Guides to show you how some of the equipment worked and about “the tunnel” to the main house. From the Café, there is a corridor which surprisingly opens out into the centre of Petworth village.
The 700 acre Deer Park, includes a Pleasure Garden, both designed by Capability Brown. There is some lovely ‘planting’ on the long walk from the Coach Park. There may be a buggy available to take a few people on the 15 minute walk to the House.
