Betchworth Castle is a ruin of a fortified medieval house, near Brockham, built on a sandstone spur overlooking the western (left) bank of the River Mole, Surrey, UK. The ruin is in Betchworth Park Golf Course, off Castle Gardens, about 4 miles (6 km) west of Reigate.
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Betchworth (or Beechworth etc) Castle was the seat of the manor West Betchworth and was held by Richard de Tonbridge at the time of the Domesday Survey. It started as an earthwork fortress built by Robert Fitz Gilbert in the 11th century. It was turned into a stone castle in 1379 by Sir John FitzAlan. The castle or fortified house was rebuilt by Sir Thomas Browne in the 15th century.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, people had little practical use for castles any more, and this one was outshone by a newer, bigger house in the larger grounds. Some of it was demolished to reuse the building material elsewhere. Without a permanent tenant, the rest of it gradually fell into ruin, and was treated as a folly.
Public access to the site was granted through a land deal in 2005 with Betchworth Park Golf Club, however the local council has not yet finalized their part of the deal. The entire ruin is currently surrounded by sturdy railings for safety reasons as much of the masonry could collapse at any time. There are also unstable subterranean cellars some of which have already collapsed. Although the council has posted signs banning access, visitors can get relatively close to the ruins.
Mole Valley Council, which owned the castle, sold the castle in 2008 for one pound to local man Martin Higgins. Mr Higgins has promised to repair the castle, partly at his own expense, so that the public can be admitted. [1]