Local Events

Petworth Society Talk

16 JANUARY 2026

7.30pm – 9.30pm

A Town Stunned – Petworth 1939 – 1952

Miles Costello will present a fully illustrated talk on Petworth during a time of significant national changes and events, and how these impacted and were reflected in a small country town.

The talk will look at Petworth from the arrival of the first London evacuees in 1939 to the opening of Petworth House to the public. The talk, accompanied by photographs of the time, will include, among other topics, rationing the home guard, the tragedy of Petworth Boys School, and the demolition of the spire on St. Mary’s Church.

Jane Bown: Play Shadow at Newlands House Gallery

NOW – 15 FEBRUARY 2026

Wednesday to Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm Sunday 11.00am – 4.00pm

Jane Bown: Play Shadow offers an intimate portrait of one of Britain’s most revered photographers, Jane Bown (1925–2014), whose quietly powerful black-and-white portraits have become iconic within the canon of twentieth-century photography.

The exhibition expands beyond the familiar public image of Bown’s work to reveal the deeply personal vision and consistent philosophy that guided her practice: a belief in simplicity, natural light, and the decisive presence of a good face.

Bown’s mastery lay in her ability to work quickly, intuitively, and with minimal equipment, most famously, her Olympus OM-1 and either an 85mm for close up portraits or a 55mm lens when she wanted context for the sitter. Her reliance on natural light, often soft and north-facing, created striking chiaroscuro effects that gave her portraits psychological depth and subtle drama. Play Shadow gestures both to the technical precision with which Bown orchestrated light and to the emotional resonance and mystery she was able to draw out of her subjects, often within moments of meeting them.

Recognised for photographing cultural icons from Samuel Beckett to Queen Elizabeth II, Bown was nonetheless uninterested in celebrity. Her images stripped away artifice, offering instead an honest, often vulnerable glimpse into the human behind the persona. A photograph of Anthony Blunt, taken before the public revelation of his espionage, has since been seen as eerily prescient, light and shadow working not just as aesthetic choices but as metaphors for truth and concealment.

Bown also photographed some of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, including Henry Moore, Paula Rego, David Hockney, and Francis Bacon. This exhibition will feature not only Bown’s portraits of these figures but also selected works by the artists themselves, creating a dynamic conversation between sitter and maker, photograph and artwork.

Jane Bown: Play Shadow celebrates her lasting connection to the region and to future generations of image-makers. An alumna of the Guildford School of Art -UK’s only full-time photography course at the time, directed by Ifor Thomas- now part of the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Bown’s legacy continues to inspire. Current UCA students have been invited to respond to her work, with selected contemporary pieces, and interventions,  included in the exhibition to reflect on her enduring influence.

This exhibition gathers a selection photographs, some rarely shown, across several thematic groupings that explore Bown’s approach to composition, light, and emotional presence. It includes archival material and personal reflections, offering insight into a photographer who saw technological restraint not as a limitation but as a creative discipline.

In an age dominated by fast-evolving technology and visual noise, Jane Bown: Play Shadow invites viewers to slow down and rediscover the power of simplicity: the quiet alchemy between face and light, shadow, and storytelling.

Link to NHG website

https://newlandshouse.gallery/exhibitions/jane-bown-play-shadow/

Images © Jane Bown Estate.

The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair

£10 at the door - free re-admission with programme.
Or print your own complimentary ticket from this site.

Our next fair in Petworth Park will be held from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 May 2026 - the twelfth instalment of this popular show.

The famous National Trust property in the picturesque market town of Petworth has proved an ideal venue, attracting thousands of eager visitors. In its spacious marquee, the Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair has over 60 exhibitors, predominantly members of The British Antique Dealers' Association and LAPADA The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers. They offer for sale a wide range of desirable items such as fine period furniture, clocks, oil and watercolour paintings, maps, glass, sculpture, lighting, vintage watches, boxes, silver and jewellery together with ceramics, 20th century design objects, drawings and prints, textiles and carpets, garden artefacts, applied arts and many other decorative and unique works of art from the ancient to the contemporary.

We are very happy to again work with The National Trust at Petworth House as well as with the local dealer association PAADA and the Petworth Business Association, creating yet another exciting event. The grand 17th century house boasts an internationally important art collection, and together with its 'Capability' Brown landscaped country park, it provides a magnificent backdrop for our annual fair.

The fair has its own free car park by the marquee - access is from the A272 Tillington Road through the gate at New Lodges. The AA signs will direct traffic to this entrance and not to the main car park on the A283, where there is a charge of £4 for non-National Trust members. Disabled parking close to the fair entrance. The pedestrian entrance is via the Cricket Lodge gate, also on the A272, or via the Cowyard.

A courtesy shuttle bus service will operate between the fair car park, the entrance to Petworth House and the town centre, running hourly between 11 am and 6 pm (5pm on Sunday).

Fair visitors enjoy free access to Petworth House during the three day event. National Trust members and Petworth House ticket holders may attend the antiques fair free of charge.

Light refreshments are available in the restaurant inside the fair, operated by The Naked Food Company.

Dogs that can be carried and guide/assistance dogs are welcome.

For local information, including details of hotels, restaurants and things to do, please visit Discover Petworth and Visit South East England.