Brockham
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The village of Brockham in Surrey, England, was originally named 'Brook Ham' - possibly a reference to the fact that it is located on the banks of the River Mole.
On a spur of land to the north west of the village stands Betchworth Castle, originally built by Richard FitzGilbert on land granted to him by William the Conqueror soon after the Norman invasion in 1066, but later replaced by a medieval house which was probably built in the mid to late 14th century. Only a few ruins survive today.
Today’s church is relatively recent - it was commissioned in 1847 by Sir Henry Goulburn, who served as both Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary.
Agriculture always provided most of the employment for villages, although further work was to be found in the nearby Brockham Hills in the late 19th century, when they were mined for chalk and hearthstone - an operation run by the Brockham Brick Company Limited until 1911.
The village green provides the focal point for the village. Once popular for its cricket matches - the legendary WG Grace is said to have played there - it is now better known as the site of a Guy Fawkes bonfire every year on the closest Saturday to November 5, and said to be the biggest in Surrey.
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