Petworth House, Church Street,

Petworth, West Sussex, GU28

0AE

TRAIL

Walking

GRADE

Moderate

DISTANCE

2.8 miles (4.5km)

TIME

2-3 hours

OS MAP

Explorer 121

Contact01798 342207

petworth@nationaltrust.org.uk

FacilitiesParking: 700 yds from housecar park to start of trail. £3.00Non-members 2013. Memberscan park for free

Toilets: Located at start/end ofthe trail at the entrance to thehouse, and at the main car park

Café, shop and restaurantlocated within the servants'quarters opposite the house -admission charge applies fornon-National Trust members

nationaltrust.org.uk/walks

Digging up the past in PetworthParkThis family-friendly archaeologytrail will take you on a journeythrough the history of PetworthPark. There are 11 informationboards dotted around the Park.Each board has information thatyou need to answer the questionsin the trail.

TerrainUndulating terrain over a mix of gravel pathways and grass track, includes some steep inclines. Suitablefor dog walkers, please keep dogs on leads when near to deer.

Things to see

I spy Petworth House

Experience fantastic views ofPetworth House and Upper Pondas you make your way around thetrail. The house is home to theNational Trust's finest collectionof art and sculpture, and a socialhistory spanning 900 years. Comeinside to find out more.

Wildlife spotting

Look out for our historic herdof fallow deer, once hunted byHenry VIII. Look up high for achance to spot birds of prey suchas hobbies, ravens and buzzards.See if you can spot ducks andgeese on the ponds.

View from atop ahillside

Enjoy stunning views over LowerPond as you reach the top ofArbour Hill.

Petworth House, Church Street,

Petworth, West Sussex, GU28

0AE

Start/endStart: West front of PetworthHouse, SU974220End: West front of PetworthHouse, SU974220

How to get thereOn foot: Pedestrian accessfrom Petworth town and A272

By bus: Worthing to Midhurst(no. 1 bus) passes Pulboroughtrain station. Horsham toPetworth (no. 75 bus, passingHorsham train station) andMidhurst to Petworth (no. 1bus). Alight in Petworth towncentre, then follow LombartStreet (cobbled street oppositebus stop) and turn left at the topto access Petworth House

By train: Pulborough (5¼miles), then no. 1 bus toMidhurst (see above)

By car: Both house and parkcar parks located on A283;Follow signs from centre ofPetworth (A272/A283) - parkingfee applies for non-NationalTrust members. See websitefor up-to-date car park openingtimes.

nationaltrust.org.uk/walks

1. To begin your journey through the history of Petworth Park head towards the orange board in frontof the house marked with a number 1. Q: What shape was the original Petworth House?

2. Follow the path in front of board 1 and head towards the trees where you should come across abusy road full of ancient traffic and board number 2. Q: When was the Petworth to Midhurst roadfinally moved to its current position?

3. Head towards the stone track and follow it to the right. Turn the clock back 300 years and listencarefully for the sounds of the past... The clip clop of hooves in the distance is getting louder as youapproach board number 3. Q: What was in the courtyard of the 6th duke’s stables?

4. If you look carefully at the ground you should be able to make out some of the ditches which showthe outline of the stables. Imagine how big they were – even larger and more impressive than thehouse. Follow the track further west towards the end of Upper Pond to find board 4. You are nowstanding on top of a mighty dam. Let’s hope it doesn’t burst. Q: What type of fish live in Upper Pond?

5. You now have a choice - you can either continue following the track to board 6 (see next step)or you can make a 20-minute diversion that will take you towards the village of Tillington and boardnumber 5. If you are making the diversion follow the track from board 4 until it splits off to the lefttowards the lodge houses. Follow this track and, about half way along the downhill section, take thegrass track that goes off to the right. Follow the grass path straight ahead at the crossroads to thesunken lane of trees. Head towards the stone building you see ahead of you. You might not realise itbut you are now trampling through the village of Tillington and several people’s back gardens. Readboard 5 to discover more. Q: How old is the colt house? Clue: look above the door. Retrace yoursteps back to the stone track or use your map to take a cross-country adventure to find board 6.

6. From board 4, continue along the stone track until you reach the end of Upper Pond. Then followthe grass path around the perimeter, keeping Upper Pond on your right. As you pass the boathouseon your right (the other side of the pond) there is a clump of trees ahead of you in which you will findboard 6. If you explore under the trees you will find the footing on the far side of the stew ponds. Q:What were the stew ponds for?

7. Follow the path uphill, walking directly away from Petworth House, until it joins back onto the stonetrack near the log pile. Then continue to your right along the stone track. This track used to be theoriginal carriageway; imagine how grand and impressive Petworth House would have seemed tovisitors travelling through the park and then driving in their horse and carriage up to the front of thehouse. As you near the bottom of the downhill you will come across board 7 on your left. Q: Howmany miles of culverts are there under Petworth Park?

8. Stay on the track for another 200m until you find a grass path off to the right, just after the largetree with the fallen branch. When you reach the crossroads turn right and then follow this long pathtowards Lower Pond. Can you hear any of the water flowing through the culverts? When you reachthe corner of Lower Pond you should be able to spy board number 8. This archaeological feature isa fairly modern one taking you back in time only 70 years when even Petworth Park played its part in

the events of the second world war. Q: What type of vehicle was kept in the park during the SecondWorld War?

9. Now its time for a big burst of energy, as you jitterbug your way up the extremely steep Arbour Hill.When facing board number 8, turn around and back-track for around 30m before taking the smallgrass path up the hill to your left. The further up the hill you climb, the further you are heading back intime. When you reach the top you will be standing in the Tudor period, alongside board number 9. Q:What did Henry VIII build on Arbour Hill?

10. Now gallop across the ridge on your hunting stallion to find board number 10, and see if you canspot any fine deer to shoot with your bow and arrow. Q: What metal was the cavalry spur found onLawn Hill made of?

11. Your journey through Petworth’s rich history is now almost at an end. After leaving board 10 takethe second path on the right and follow the crown of the hill to our final stop at board number 11.Standing on this spot 300 years ago you would instead be overlooking the 6th duke’s formal gardens;full of fountains and fruit trees (and, of course, those enormous stables; can you still hear the clip clopof the hooves?). Q: What fruit did the 6th duke grow at Petworth?