Petworth Parking Poser

One of the good things about Petworth is that it has a large carpark right in the middle of town which is free to use and has unlimited parking. I heard that there were plans afoot to start a system where the parking will still be free but there will be a 2 hour time limit.

On first hearing it sounded a bit daft to me. But I listened and it turns out that there is a problem. It seems that a lot of people who work in London have the habit of meeting up in Petworth and sharing a lift either into London itself or to Haslemere or Pulborough stations, where the parking isn't free.

This means that the car park gets full up early in the morning and stays that way until the evening, meaning that people who have business in Petworth itself during the day have a job finding somewhere to park. The limited time rule should make this a bit easier. The commuters would soon work out that they could use the large car park by the Sylvia Beaufoy centre for the same purpose just as easily.

I couldn't help thinking that 4 hours would be a better time limit than 2 hours - there is a lot to see in Petworth and two hours seems a bit of a short period of time.

Anyhow, I don't know how far advanced these plans are and even if they will ever come to anything. If you know more than me please let me know.

Petworth Butchers

Petworth Butchers can be found in the road leading into and out of the car park.

The shop is run by a local farmer who sells his own produce and also sources from other local producers, so this is a great place to get locally produced meat.

Despite appearances, this is a business that is run on a major internet router straight out of silicon valley using the latest high tech IT systems. The butcher can just as often be found rewriting his DLLs or configuring his code calls as he can slicing his bacon. And all this goes on behind this modest brick building's walls.

Petworth Festival 2009

I have just noticed that the Petworth Festival 2009 website is now up and running with some previews of what we have to look forward to.

First impressions - it is good that they have not wasted the festival budget on a flashy and stylish website. It is er, basic. Mind you, not that visitpetworth.blogspot is much to e-mail home about.

But what has been revealed of the programme looks sensational. One of only two UK performances of a new work by John Taverner. Wow! I know that John Taverner isn't everyone's cup of tea but I will be queuing up as soon as the box office opens to get in on that one. It isn't until July so I will have to contain myself until then.

I signed up for the newsletter and the questions implied that there might be more on offer than music this year. I don't know any more than that at the moment.

I will post more information as it becomes available.

Pips of Petworth

Petworth's greengrocer.

Pip's has only been open for a couple of years now.  In addition to traditional green groceries they also do soup and freshly prepared smoothies. There is usually something interesting to see in there.

Bach in Bignor 21st March 2009

This looks like it could be good. 

And it is in a very Bach-like setting.

(Thanks to Abridgover on Flickr for the photo.)

Tickets are available at the tourist office in Petworth - or at least they are according to the flyer.  I haven't bought mine yet but I intend to.   More details below.

Spriggs Florists Petworth

Spriggs is the only florist in Petworth and has the most impressive premises of any florist I have come across. I don't know how old this building is but it looks like it could easily be Elizabethan.

The brickwork on the chimney is particularly impressive.

And they have a website.....

Spriggs

Petworth Bookshop

I find it rather amazing, and also very convenient, that a place the size of Petworth manages to support a bookshop. The Petworth Bookshop is not only about as accurate a name as any shop could have, it is also small but very well stocked.

Pompey Chimes Cottage Petworth

An old cottage called Pompey Chimes. There are quite a few in roughly this style in Petworth. The thing I like most about it is its wierd angle relative to the road. No doubt it made sense when it was built.

Shiny Blooms

Even in a really small place like Petworth it is amazing how you can come across really interesting businesses operating that you have never heard anything about it. It turns out that there's an organic flower grower and flower arranger operating near Grittenham Barn called Shiny Blooms. I have never seen any of their work but the illustrations on their website look really nice I like the environmental awareness thing too.

Visit the shiny blooms website

Ronald Chambers Antiques, Market Square Petworth

Ronald Chambers is one of the top antique dealers in Petworth, and enjoys a key position in the corner of Market Square. It is always worth a look in the window as you go by, they have some amazing stuff in there including things like grandfather clocks and old keyboard instruments sometimes. The always put on a good show for the Christmas late night opening in December. In the photo they have decorated the window to mark valentine's day. I doubt very much that valentine's day makes much impact on their trade - they seem to just enjoy an excuse for a bit of flamboyance.

They have a website too http://www.ronaldchambers.com/

I only recently noticed that one part of the shop has another name over it, that of Jacqueline Tudor, so I guess that there must be two businesses operating on the same premises. But as they both use the same phone number they must get on pretty well.

United Reform Church Petworth

Its position in the centre of town makes it tricky to photograph, but the United Reform Church is probably the most pleasant looking of the three churches in Petworth.

Somerfields

How would any of us in Petworth get on without Somerfields? Knowing that a pint of milk or a rasher of bacon is only a short walk away anytime between 7 and 10 is a great comfort. Apart from the banks, the only big chain represented in Petworth.