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. The local council has posted signs saying there is no access to the site. Visitors can park next to the sign, and walk around the bushes to either side of the locked gate. There is car parking on the driveway leading to the golf course. Public access to the site was granted through a land deal in 2005 with Betchworth Park Golf Club, but the council has not yet finalized their part of it.
Visitors can also canoe down the river from Brockham, land when they see the promontory, and press overland across the tenth fairway of the golf course. As the picture shows, that route can be somewhat nettlesome. The entire ruin is surrounded by sturdy railings, to exclude a close approach for safety reasons. Much of the masonry is poised to fall; there are subterranean cellars that could collapse at any moment. Some of them already have.
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The castle is said to be haunted by a black dog who prowls through the ruins at night.
Betchworth (or Beechworth etc) Castle 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. Not an unusual fate for a castle.
Mole Valley Council, which owns the castle, is considering a proposal to sell it 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.
Coordinates: 51°14′15.04″N 0°17′46.28″W / 51.2375111°N 0.2961889°W
  | Betchworth Castle at CastleUK - Betchworth Castle Betchworth Park Golf Course Brockham Leatherhead Mole Valley Surrey England English |
| | Betchworth Castle at The Gatehouse - The Gatehouse website record for Betchworth Castle |
| | Betchworth Castle at Pastscape - Pastscape - Detailed Result: BETCHWORTH CASTLE |
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