For my birthday, I was gifted a membership to the National Trust by my boyfriend. This year I am excited to explore what the trust has to offer and document some adventures on my blog. The first location I visited this year was Petworth House and Park in West Sussex. I was excited to see the art and culture within the house and learn more about its history. From reading the National Trust magazines and handbook, I understand that Petworth is famed for its amazing art collection. It truly was breathtaking.
The history of Petworth House and Park spans over 900 years of history. The remarkable home was built and remodelled over time to rival the prestigious palaces of Europe during the time. The family line remains unbroken to this day as descendants still occupy the home today.
In its origin, the land at Petworth was a gift from Henry I's widow to her brother. Her brother later went on to marry into the Percy family and the history of Petworth begins. The Percy family originally remained up North, but during Tudor times, Elizabeth I became suspicious of the family's ties with her sister Mary and banished them to the South. It was at this time that Petworth became the Percy's family home and transformation on the property began.
The 'Golden Age' of Petworth began when George O'Brien Wyndham inherited the property in 1763. Wyndham had a huge fascination and appreciation for British art and culture. Today, we have him to thank for some of the 9000 items in the National Trust's collection of art. Within the collection are pieces by Turner and Blake, paintings, sculptures, silverware and the first edition of an English globe. The terrestrial globe, named the Molyneux Globe, was altered to match the latest discoveries of the time. If you are interested in art, history and culture I would definitely recommend a visit to the house.
Outside of the house, there are plenty of other things to do to keep you busy. The grounds at Petworth are extensive and beautiful. You can walk around the Pleasure Gardens which are decorated with monuments. We visited in January so parts of the walk were quite muddy, so I would recommend sensible walking shoes! In Summer, I can picture the gardens as bright green and full of colour, however, there was a certain charm in seeing the gardens dusted with glittering frost. The grounds of the house are huge and we did not explore it all on the day we visited. I would like to go back to see the Deer Park properly and see how many deer I can spot. There is a lovely cafe where you can stop and try some of the delicious National Trust snacks. National Trust cafes are famed for their delicious treats and you can buy cookbooks to make your own at home. There is a lovely gift shop and also a door to access the town of Petworth which is lovely to explore as well.
For my first National Trust visit this year, I started with a really impressive house. I am already planning a trip back to see it in the summer. However, I am also really excited to explore some of the parks, gardens, coastlines, woodlands, castles and forts that are protected by the trust.
To find out more about the accessibility of Petworth House, the times, prices and additional information please follow this link.
The address for Petworth House and Park is:
Petworth House and Park,
Petworth,
West Sussex,
GU28 9LR
*This post and any upcoming posts about the National Trust are my opinions. I am writing about the National Trust to share some of my favourite days out and to shine a light on the brilliant work of the trust. I am not being paid or sponsored to write these posts.
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