Little Boxgrove Cottage Petworth

Little Boxgrove cottage is on the main road to Chichester just before the turn off to Midhurst. It is clearly a very old building with a long history. Looking at the side view I suspect that the front is a 'modern' exterior on a building that is older still. Its a shame that such a venerable old building is so close to the main road.

Allans Mens Clothing Store Petworth

I was very happy to get this picture and write up from the folks at my favourite clothes shop. Allens is located just off the Market Square and stocks some good clothes for the discerning gentleman of fashion. They also provide the soundtrack to Christmas by broadcasting carols from their shop.


45 years ago in 1964 Marion and Fred Sneller and their seven children moved to Petworth and took over Allans, a Ladies Fashion and Haberdashery business based in New Street. The first day’s trading finished with a grand total of £1.87 in the till. The business quickly expanded and at one time the whole family plus several local shop assistants were employed in six different shops occupying four premises in the town. By 1974 the shops which included the original ladies fashions now traded in menswear, children’s clothes, dress fabrics and knitting wools and carpets, curtains and homeware.

Following the death of Fred in 1971 and Marion’s subsequent retirement in 1979 plus various family members moving on to other things, the present business is run by Bob and Dick Sneller although their sister Wendy Reynolds still does all the alterations for the shop. Another sister Jane Welch has just written her mother’s memoirs which Allans have published to celebrate the 45th anniversary.

Chip Shop Petworth

Every town needs a chip shop. This is Petworth's.

Archway Cottage Petworth High Street

A charming cottage tucked away behind a gate in the High Street in Petworth.

Ebeneezer Chapel Petworth

St Marys in Petworth has a bit of reputation for being quite a 'high' church. Almost in its shadow is the other end of the scale. The now abandoned Ebeneezer chapel catered for those who like their Christianity a bit less ritualised. It has been long abandoned by the look of it and its position on the main road makes it very inaccessible to all but the very brave.   

Open Space by HSBC Golden Square Petworth- Green Shoots!

I took a picture of the bare ground outside the bank in Golden Square back in January (See previous Visit Petworth Blog Post on Open Space by HSBC). Since then things have been planted and started to grow.

I will keep an eye on it and update it further as things develop.

I have noticed from my blog stats that people are visiting my blog looking for details of and the opening hours of the bank. I am always happy to help multinational billion dollar financial institutions, so here are the key facts about the branch:

HSBC

Golden Square

Petworth

West Sussex

GU28 0AR

Tel: 08457 404 404

Fax: 01798 879 281

Opening hours are Mon - Fri unless specified 0930 - 1530

High Street Byworth

Byworth is a great antidote to the cosmopolitan hussle and bustle of Petworth.

The building on the corner used to be the bakery.

Black Horse Byworth

Met some old friends at the Black Horse in Byworth for a quick drink on Easter Sunday at lunchtime. This turned into quite a long drink, an afternoon being introduced to and reducing the size of their wine cellar then back to the Black Horse in the evening for a meal and to participate in the quiz. Verdict - this is a really nice pub serving good food and decent local real ales. I can wholeheartedly recommend the shepherds pie. The quiz was good fun too. All in all - a thoroughly great place to spend a few hours.

Unlike just about every other building in Byworth, the Black Horse is not particularly pretty or picturesque. But it is very old, at least 300 years. It must have started as a drovers pub and there are the remains of an inn sign out the back facing what is now the footpath from Petworth but what would have been the drove in days gone by.

I quite like the way that this is a very old pub but it doesn't play up its antiquity in any way.

Claudia Jones Exhibition at the Coco Cafe Sugar Lounge Petworth

The Coco Cafe Sugar Lounge in Petworth doesn't just do chocolate and coffee. They also regularly have exhibitions of art and photos on their walls as well. The latest set is by Petworth resident Claudia Jones, and as Petworth's premier A-list blogger I was at the launch party to see how it all looked.

Claudia grew up in Jamaica and her oil paintings reflect the warmth and vibrancy of the tropics. A big contrast with West Sussex! She started painting in oils at school when she was 6 or 7 and has continued ever since. Her work is on display in several hotels in Negril, Jamaica.

This a detail from a triptych portraying a group of flamingos in a tropical pool. In additions to the oil paintings she also has some interesting screens that enable you to transform your room into a jungle.

And here is the artist herself

The exhibition is on until May 8th and most of the pieces in it are for sale. Claudia has a website where you can see more of her work. www.stargrasss.co.uk

More about the Coco Cafe Sugar Lounge.

Concert of Music by Handel and Purcell - Leconfield Hall Petworth 26th April 2009

It is still a long wait for the start of the Petworth Festival and still no indications of the programme details yet, but classical music lovers have other options in the mean time.

I will be getting my tickets for this as soon as I can - its a shame there isn't anywhere in Petworth itself you can buy them.

If the organisers are reading - I would love a better illustration if you have one. 

 

 

 

 

 

Coverage of Petworth Festival here

Age of Oak and Walnut Petworth

The Age of Oak and Walnut is a new antique shop just opened. I don't know anything about it other than looking in the window and seeing that they do furniture. Something about the name hints to me that they might specialise in oak and walnut pieces, but that is pure speculation.

This building was until recently an office of Christie's, the auctioneers.

Update 13.4.09 - I have just discovered the Age of Oak and Walnut website. As I guessed, oak and walnut furniture is their speciality. They do some other stuff as well- all gorgeous.

Palm Sunday in Petworth

There is a parade in Petworth on Palm Sunday(the Sunday before Easter).

This picture was taken on the corner of Angel Street and Middle Street.

The Petworth Town Band were there to provide the music. I don't know how many towns in the country still have a town band. Petworth is fortunate to have one to provide the atmosphere at events like this.