Westwood

Set off the beautiful Lombard Street, an historic cobbled street in the heart of Petworth’s old town centre, Westwood dates back to the 17th Century and epitomises the abundance of character found in this genteel corner of Sussex.

Lombard Street is one of the least changed streets in this delightful market town, a tangle of narrow lanes and alleys winding to the east of the towering walls of Petworth House’s grounds. Lombard Street is cobbled and virtually unchanged with a view of the church at the end. The spire is just pre-Victorian, having been added in 1827 along with a rendered brick upper stage. The latter remains, but the spire was demolished in 1947 and the render removed from the brickwork. Apparently the spire had been designed for a Brighton church.

A gate from the street leads along an ancient passageway to the rear courtyard and entrance into Westwood’s newly fitted kitchen. The kitchen contains a wide range of appliances including a coffee machine. Heading upstairs, the intimate dining area beckons you in with deep purple tones. Next to the dining area is the king size bedroom, and to the other side the family bathroom. The cosy sitting room is resplendent in rich red décor, exposed beams and brickwork, and offers a Chesterfield sofa, loveseat and Smart TV.

From the sitting room an unassuming, tiny door reveals a fabulous snug room. With two armchairs and a bar-style desk looking down over the cobbled street below, it is the perfect spot to inspire a Dickensian novel. The snug also leads into bedroom two, a large twin looking out over the ancient roofs of Petworth. Outside there is a small, sunny courtyard accessed from the kitchen, fully enclosed for the kids and pooch and offering a bistro table, bench seat and charcoal BBQ.

Petworth is full of quaint houses and cottages, interspersed with antique shops, tea-rooms and restaurants. It is best known as the location of the stately home Petworth House and its deer park landscaped by Capability Brown. The House contains an internationally renowned art collection with numerous works by Turner and is just a couple of minutes’ walk from Westwood. The entrance to the park is less than a mile away, giving easy access for a brisk walk with the dog in the early morning mist. There is also extensive walking across the Shimmings Valley. To the east, the market town of Midhurst nestles next to Cowdray Park, famous for its polo club and the Gold Cup.

Ten miles south, the famous Goodwood Estate offers a golf course, the motor circuit, racecourse and aerodrome, with particular mention of course to the Festival of Speed, the Goodwood Revival and Glorious Goodwood. Also nearby are Chichester and Arundel. The Sussex coast and its beaches are within a 30-minute drive.

Directions to Westwood, 5 Lombard Street, Petworth GU28 0AG

If you enter Petworth from the either the A272 or the A283, both from the north, you continue to follow North Street and the one way system takes you into East Street, bear left into New Street and this takes you into Petworth Market Square with the Town H all on your left. If you look in the northeast corner you will see the southern end of Lombard Street. To deliver your cases you can bear right out of Market Square and follow the one way system round until you arrive opposite the Church. Here you can turn right into Lombard Street and the door to the side entrance of Westwood is just over halfway down on the left.

Although this is a through one way street it is rarely used and therefore parking with hazard lights on for a few minutes whilst unloading is normally OK.

If coming from the south, the one way system into Petworth will take you to the north end of Lombard Street with access opposite the Church.

The Property is marked by a small slate sign and the key box is below the sign.