Betchworth Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Bechesworth; Bettisworth

In the civil parish of Brockham. In the historic county of Surrey (Modern Authority of Surrey, 1974 county of Surrey).

Betchworth Castle is a fortified medieval house with later alterations and additions, situated on a sandstone spur which overlooks the western bank of the River Mole. Its north eastern end built of sandstone and brick survives in a ruinous state to 9m in height, whilst the south western end survives only largely below ground. Historical records indicate that Betchworth Castle dates to at least 1379, when Sir John Fitzalan, Marshal of England, was granted licence to crenellate his residence there. It is likely that the fortified house was constructed on the site of an earlier castle, traces of which may survive beneath the later buildings. a further licence was granted to Thomas Brown in 1448.The house subsequently underwent several phases of alteration and redevelopment, including a major remodelling during the mid-C15.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law. This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 289837)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ19035005

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 397422
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 181; 9740 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Web site links
  • http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/187/betchworth.html
    http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/GetRecord/SHHER_9740
• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p311-2, 440
    Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Surrey (Malvern) p8
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p239
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p466
    Pevsner, N. and Nairn, Ian, 1971 (Revised Cherry, Bridget), The Buildings of England: Surrey (London, Penguin) p111
    Malden, H.E. (ed), 1911, VCH Surrey Vol3 p147
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol1 p92-3
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p418
    Manning, O. and Bray, W., 1804, The History and Antiquities of Surrey Vol1 p555-60
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p277
• Journal Articles
  • Matt Collison, 2008-9, 'Betchworth Castle' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol22 p159 [news report]
    Anon, 2005, 'Betchworth Castle to be supported by £75,000 project' CSG Newsletter Vol7 Issue1 p2
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Calendar of Patent Rolls (1377-81) p380
    Calendar of Charter Rolls Vol6 p102
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/barkseng.html#surrey5]