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Petworth House
The White or Oak Staircase - Visitor's Entrance
Although this was never the main entrance to the House, it serves the purpose as the principal
entrances (17th century Marble Hall and 19th century Stone Hall) cannot be used for visitor's.
The staircase is made from oak and is part of the original manor house. It was remodelled by the 6th
Duke of Somerset around 1700. First called the 'Oak Staircase' in 1869. By 1925 only the balustrade
and the panelling supporting the staircase were grained (a simple form of oak graining was probably introduced in the early
18th century, which seems to have survived until the mid 19th century), and blue and white wall-paper of a loosely
Neo-classical design had been hung.
This scheme was repeated in 1997. The previous wall colours are unknown, but as the room was called the White Staircase
by 1795, it was presumably a white or stony white. Colours typical of Petworth around 1800.
Stairs were constructed down to the cellars in 1795, cutting through the
below-stairs armoury closet, to link up with the subterranean passage leading
to the kitchens and Servant's Block.
This was the 'Lobby Staircase' as recorded in 1749/50 and therein hung 66
pictures in gilt, or black and gilt, frames. In 1764 it was called the 'Picture
Stair Case' and 34 pictures were hung here.
The closet under the stairs contained about 'One Hundred Musketts, Sixty
Halberds, Sixty Pistoles, and Twelve Swords all very Old', some of which
must have come from the Proud Duke's Servants' Hall.
Pictures:
W.F.Witherington (1785-1865). Fete in Petworth Park, 1835
The second of two great feasts laid on by the 3rd Earl for 6,000 local people.
Furniture
The Victorian mahogany weighing-scales were listed here in 1869.
The longcase clock is by Thomas Tompion (1639-1713), the most famous of 17th century English clockmakers.
It cost £16.12s
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