Petworth Cottage Museum facts for kids
The Petworth Cottage Museum is a special house located at 346 High Street in Petworth, West Sussex. It used to be a home for a worker from the nearby Leconfield Estate. Today, it has been carefully brought back to look just like it did around 1910.
Imagine stepping back in time! The museum shows how a woman named Mrs. Mary Cummings lived there. She was an Irish Catholic who worked as a seamstress, making and mending clothes. She worked both at the grand Petworth House and from her own home.
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Discovering Petworth Cottage Museum
The Petworth Cottage Museum offers a unique look into daily life over a century ago. It helps visitors understand how ordinary people lived and worked in the early 1900s. The museum is filled with items that show what a home would have looked like back then.
Who Lived Here?
The main person featured at the museum is Mrs. Mary Cummings. She was a seamstress, which means she was skilled at sewing. Her job was very important for making and repairing clothes for the people at Petworth House. She also did sewing work from her own cottage.
A Look Back in Time
Inside the museum, you can see how the rooms were set up. It's like a time capsule showing the furniture, kitchen tools, and everyday items from 1910. This helps you imagine what life was like without modern things like smartphones or computers!
The museum also has two old paintings. These paintings show what the outside and inside of the old Petworth Gaol looked like in the 1860s. A gaol was a type of prison, and these paintings give us a glimpse into a different part of Petworth's history.
How the Museum Started
The Petworth Cottage Museum first opened its doors in May 1996. It was opened by Lord and Lady Egremont, who helped make this historical place available to everyone. The museum is managed by a group called the Petworth Cottage Trust. This trust is a charity, which means it's a non-profit organization.
The museum relies on amazing volunteers. These volunteers are people who give their time to help visitors. They share information about the cottage and Mrs. Cummings, and they can even give guided tours. This helps make your visit even more interesting and educational.
