PETWURTII, Sussex, a market-town, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Petworth, is situated in 50° 59' N. lat., 0' 36' W. long., distant 14 miles N.N.E. from Chichester and tulles S.S.W. from London. The population of the town in 1851 was 2427. The living is a rectory in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chichester. Petworth Poor-Law Union contains 5 parishes, with an area of 39,329 acres, and a population in 1851 of 9629.
The town is clean and neat, and well lighted with gas. The church is a cruciform structure, chiefly in the perpendicular style. Some years back the building was repaired and altered, and a new spire added. The Independents and Calvinistic Methodists have small chapels. There are two Endowed schools, almshouses for 14 aged persons, founded in 1624 ; for 22 poor females, founded in 1746 ; and for 4 poor men. A savings bank and a literary imetitute are in the town. A county court is held here. The market-place and court
house in the centre of the town is a neat building, erected at the cost of the late Earl of Egremont, the great benefactor of Petworth. The market is on Saturday ; fairs are held on May 1st, September 4th, and November 20th.
The mansion of the Percys, who formerly possessed the manor, abuts upon the churchyard. In 1309 Henry de Percy had a licence and embattled his house at Petworth ; the house was new-fronted by the Duke of Somerset, and greatly altered by the late Earl of Egro wont. The galleries contain numerous portraits by Vandyke, and many other fine works, with choice specimens of ancis nt and modern sculpture, and the rooms are adorned with a singularly extensive and valuable series of carvings by Grinling Gibbous. The park, 12 miles in circumference, is remarkably picturesque and well wooded.