Petworth House And Park — Best Art Collection - Beyond Downton Abbey: A Guide to 25 Great Houses - page 50

Fourteen miles of high walls surround this handsome 17 th century stately mansion, which
is home to a world-renowned art collection. Petworth stands within a 700 acre deer park
designed by Capability Brown — a landscape artist in his own right.
Who built it…who owns it
Petworth boasts an ancient history; Charles de Percy was born in a 13 th century fortified
manor house that stood on the site. The architect of the original medieval Percy home is
unknown, however, its construction was likely overseen by Henry, Lord Percy of Alnwick
in the 1300s. Remains of that building survive in Petworth's chapel and undercroft.
Petworth was rebuilt in 1688 when the 6 th Duke transformed the site into the grand man-
sion that exists today. Petworth has been the home of the Wyndham family since the
mid-1700s.
During the first half of the 18 th century, Charles Wyndham, 2 nd Earl of Egremont, com-
missioned Capability Brown to design and landscape the deer park. Wyndham added to
the extensive art collection and built the North Gallery to house it. The 3 rd Earl enlarged
windows and added the Square Dining Room and the Napoleon Room.
The last major remodeling of Petworth was in the late 19 th century when the 2 nd Lord
Leconfield hired Anthony Salvin to add a porte-cochere, build a new entrance hall, and
redo part of the southeast wing. In 1947, the 3 rd Earl Leconfield gave Petworth to the Na-
tional Trust. Members of the family continue to live in a portion of the estate.
Style notes
A combination of French and English style, design elements merge in this classical stately
mansion.