The first record of Petworth is in 785AD Ealdwulf King of the South Saxons gave land in this area to St Peter's Church in Selsey, the town is mentioned as "Peartingwyrth". Today Petworth is a small picturesque town built along the walls of Petworth house. The town plan is medieval, with narrow streets and alleys. Other than the quaint town itself Petworth House and Petworth Park should be visited.

In 600 years only three families have lived at Petworth House, the Percys, the Seymours and the Wyndhams.

Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland was know as the "Wizard Earl" due to his dabbling in alchemy. In 1605 he was imprisoned when it was alleged he was party to the 'Gunpowder Plot'. He was eventually released in 1621 after paying a fine of £30,000. During his stay at the Tower of London one of his fellow prisoners was Sir Walter Ralegh, It is believed that Ralegh gave the Earl the earliest surviving example of an english globe. What is known for certain is that Sir Walter encouraged the Earls use of tobacco.

The Percy family had lived at Petworth House since 1150. In 1652 the Percy heiress married 6th Duke of Somerset, they then built the present house between 1688 and 1696. Only one part of the original house remains. That is the 13th Century chapel, dating to around 1360, just after the Black Death.

In the 18th Century the house through marriage became the property of the Earls of Egremont. In 1752 Capability Brown planned Petworth Park for the 2nd Earl of Egremont, the house and 2000 acres of parkland, now owned by the National Trust are open to the public.

The 3rd Earl of Egremont was a great benefactor to the local area. He spent £1,250,000 improving the town, paid for the building of roads and canals and helped paupers start new lives in Canada. He also abolished the sports of Bull-baiting and Cock-shying. In his honour an apple was named after him, the "Russet Egremont".

At one time the clock in Petworth church has only three faces, despite the belfry having the normal four sides. The story goes that when the clock was installed by Lord Egremont, he decided that as everyone would benefit from the clock the townspeople should contribute to its cost. Mr Sockett the rector objected, on hearing this the clock face on the eastern side of the belfry, facing the rectory was removed.

Not only is Petworth House a work of art in itself, it contains many magnificent works of art within. Turner often visited the house and left 20 oil paintings, many on display in the Turner room. There are many other works by Holbein, Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Gainsborough, also on display.