Petworth Cottage Museum

The museum first opened in 1996 and was invented by Mrs. Ann Bradley, who wanted to show a typical Leconfield Estate worker's cottage in contrast to life at Petworth House. 1910 was a time when the Estate had its most ever cottages and its most ever workers. From 1901 to 1930 the tenant was Mrs. Mary Cummings who was not a typical Estate worker. No direct descendants of Mary were alive when the museum began, but Agnes Phelan, a very close friend of Mary's granddaughters, was found and came to see the museum in 1997. Agnes and the two granddaughters stayed with Mary in 346 for a fortnight in 1919.

346 High Street is part of a Grade2 listed building dating from the 1670s that was divided into two cottages in the 1830s and became a Leconfield Estate property in 1854. 346 has never been fully modernised, has never had a bathroom (although a bath had been installed in the scullery), and has never had an indoor toilet.

After a quarter of a century's wear and tear the museum underwent extensive refurbishment while closed from 2020 to mid-2022. More information on this and other aspects of the museum can be found on our website. This year marks 30 years since the museum opened in May 1996.

Timings

Saturday 12 September:

1100 - 1630

Sunday 13 September:

1100 - 1630

Location & directions

346 High Street, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0AU

Contact on day:

Gordon Stevenson

Telephone number:

+447747761578

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Some steep stairs but good handrails. Care needed with headroom. Single yellow line parking restriction outside museum so parking possible for blue badge holders. About 100 metres from main Petworth Pay and Display Car Park.

Additional information

We are part of the Petworth Heritage Partnership which includes Petworth House, Burton Mill and Coultershaw Heritage Site.

Max number of people:

15

Estimated duration:

0 hour(s) 45 minute(s)

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