The Earls of Northumberland had a house here from the 13th century. In around 1690 Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, set about remodelling the house on his marriage to the 11th and last Earl's daughter.
Petworth House is situated on the very edge of the park with its back to the town. The west front is a triumph of architectural design and is a combination of French and English elements.
The Seymour family emblem, a pair of angel's wings, is displayed over every window. Apart from remodelling the house the 6th Duke also laid the foundations of Petworth's superb art collection.
On the 6th Duke's death the house passed by marriage to the Wyndham family.
Charles Wyndham, the 2nd Earl of Egremont employed 'Capability' Brown to landscape the park. He also added to the Duke of Somerset's collection of French, Italian and Dutch Old Masters and amassed a wealth of ancient sculpture from Rome and Greece.
His son, the 3rd Earl collected contemporary British paintings and was a patron of Turner, for whom he organised a studio at Petworth. He also acquired work from Gainsborough, Reynolds, Zoffany and Fuesli.
Only two of the original 17th century interiors remain - the florid baroque Chapel and the formal marble Hall, with its chequered black and white floor.
Grinling Gibbons worked on the room named after him as the house was built. The wealth of carving is widely considered to be the finest he ever produced.
The staircase was damaged by a fire in the early 18th century and is now decorated by murals attributed to Louis Laguerre.
The North Gallery was made later in the 18th century by the 3rd Lord Egremont to display his magnificent collection of pictures and the antique sculptures collected by his predecessors.
The Square Dining Room was redecorated in the early in the 19th century and is hung with portraits by Van Dyck taken from the original house. Paintings by Turner are displayed in the Red Room. The Beauty Room is hung with Kneller's portraits of the ladies of Queen Ann's court.
The old kitchens in the servants' block are also open and provide a sharp contrast to the opulent state rooms.
Petworth House and its park were given to the National Trust in 1947 by the 3rd Lord Leaconfield.
Most of the pictures and furniture are on loan to the Trust from the Treasury.
Although the house is in the care of the National Trust it is still the home of Lord and Lady Egremont.
The parkland surrounding Petworth House is of the finest man-made landscapes created in 18th century Europe. Its considered to be 'Capability' Brown's masterpiece.
A herd of over 700 deer graze under the groups of oaks, chestnuts and beeches.
To the north-west of the house are Brown's pleasure grounds.
Here are some of the carved 17th century urns on pedestals which were placed at strategic points around the park and gardens by the 3rd Earl.
