Petworth House

Has been described as a Questionable Palace (Royal), and also as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are masonry footings remains

NamePetworth House
Alternative NamesPeteorde; Peteswurda; Putteworth; Petteworth
Historic CountrySussex
Modern AuthorityWest Sussex
1974 AuthorityWest Sussex
Civil ParishPetworth

Petworth House. This is the most important residence in the County of Sussex. The first building here was erected by the first Baron Percy, who was granted a licence to crenellate in 1309. Of this first building the main structure of the Chapel at the north end of the present house survives. The Wine Cellar beneath what was once the Great Hall probably dates from the C.14. The eighth Earl of Northumberland rebuilt or enlarged the house between 1576 and 1582, and the ninth or "Wisard" Earl of Northumberland again did so after 1621. (PastScape–ref. listing report)

Petworth House is 17th century on the site of and incorporating remains of the 13th century house. (PastScape–ref. Batho, 1957)

Gatehouse Comments

Location is right for early medieval manor house or castle and relatively early licence date might imply rebuilding of existing manor or castle in stone. The Percies held the manor from mid C12 and it would have had some sort of manor house from well before that date. Quite how fortified this manor or the stone mansion of the early C14 were is questionable. King calls this a possible castle site, which, in his terms, means unlikely. However almost certainly would have had some defensive features such as a gatehouse. Purchased by Henry VIII in 1535, although probably not much work done at that time, and use as a royal palace is debatable.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSU975219
Latitude50.988208770752
Longitude-0.610920011997223
Eastings497590
Northings121900
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Goodall, John, 2011, The English Castle 1066-1650 (Yale University Press) p. 242
  • Jones, R., 2003, 'Hastings to Herstmonceux: the castles of Sussex' in Rudling, D. (ed) The archaeology of Sussex to AD2000 (Great Dunham: Heritage Marketing and Publications) p. 171-8
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, The Castles of Sussex (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 56
  • Thurley, Simon, 1993, The Royal Palaces of Tudor England (Yale University Press) p. 49
  • Guy, John, 1984, Castles in Sussex (Phillimore) p. 98-101
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 475 (possible)
  • Elwes, Dudley George Cary, 1876, A history of the Castles, Mansions, and Manors of Western Sussex (London: Longmans) p. 167-71 online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 405 online copy

Journals

  • Batho, Gordon, 1958, 'Notes and documents on Petworth House, 1574-1632' Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol. 96 p. 108-34
  • Batho, Gordon, 1957, 'The Percies at Petworth, 1574 - 1632' Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol. 95 p. 1-27
  • Batho, Gordon, 1956, 'The wizard earl in the tower' History Today Vol. 6.5 p. 344-51
  • Hussey, C., 1947 Mar 07, 'Petworth House, Sussex' Country Life p. 422-5
  • Blaauw, William Henry, 1861, 'Royal Licenses to Fortify Towns and Houses in Sussex' Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol. 13 p. 104-117 online copy
  • 1857, Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol. 9 p. 108 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1894, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward II (1307-13) Vol. 1 p. 144 online copy
  • Martin, M.T. (ed), 1911 for 1909, The Percy Chartulary (Surtees Society 117) passim online copy

Other

  • Simon, Stevens, 2013, Festival of British Archaeology 2013 Community Excavation at Petworth House, Petworth, West Sussex. Portslade, East Sussex (Archaeology South East Report 2013224) online copy
  • Harris, R.B., Feb 2010, Petworth Historic Character Assessment Report: Sussex Extensive Urban Survey Download copy