Petworth Cottge Museum celebrates 20 years

The museum which opened at 346 High Street in 1996, illustrates life in the town in 1910.

The house was restored and furnished as the home of Mary Cummings, a seamstress who worked at Petworth House and in her own sewing room at home. Although there were no direct descendants of Mary alive in the 1990s, research led to the

discovery of Agnes Phelan, a close friend of Mary’s granddaughters, who had stayed in 346 in 1919.

Agnes came to see the museum in 1997 and her memories, captured in the guide book, helped the early trustees to enhance their authentic re-creation of Mrs. Cummings’s cottage.

The exhibition mounted by the trustees included objects from the collections, slide shows and some 50 museum press cuttings from the Midhurst and Petworth Observer charting the museum’s development since the grand opening in 1996.

Chairman of the trustees, Gordon Stevenson said: “Everyone seemed very interested in the exhibits particularly the old press cuttings!” Stewards were also busy at the museum which was open all day and is now open for the new season.

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