BetchworthCastle is a mostly crumbled ruin of a fortified medieval stone house with some tall, two-storey corners strengthened in the 18th century, in the north of the semi-rural parish of Brockham. It is built on a sandstone spur overlooking the western bank of the Mole in Surrey in England. The ruin is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is in the lowest category of listed architecture, Grade II, due east of Dorking railway station in Dorking and due west of Reigate. Although close to the river and edge of the course it is surrounded by "Betchworth Park" Golf Course named after the village east. In 1798, Henry Peters bought Betchworth Castle and spent considerable money renovating it to be a comfortable family home. Henry lived at Betchworth Castle with his wife, Charlotte Mary Morrison, and his twelve children until his death in 1827. After Henry’s death, Betchworth Castle was not inherited by his children and therefore was bought by David Barclay and later by Henry Hope, who demolished large parts of the castle and left it in ruin, as is seen today.
Post-Restoration of monarchy and the enlightenment
The last male Browne to own Betchworth Castle was Sir Adam Browne, 2nd Baronet, who died in 1690. Alterations were later made in 1705 using an unknown architect, and in 1799 by Sir John Soane, architect. Adam Browne's daughter and sole heir, Margaret, married William Fenwicke in 1691. In 1725 Mrs. Margaret Fenwicke of Betchworth Castle left £200 to buy lands, to provide for apprenticing children, and for marrying maidservants "born in Betchworth and living seven years in the same employment", the surplus, if any, to go to the poor. St Martin's church, Dorking has plaque to Abraham Tucker, author of A Picture of Artless Love and The Light of Nature Pursued, who lived at his estate of Betchworth Castle until his death in 1774. In the 19th century, people saw little practical use for castles, and this one was outshone by a newer, bigger house in the larger grounds so soon abandoned, in the 1830s. The castle was bought by banking dynasty co-heir Henry Thomas Hope to add to his Deepdene estate in 1834, who demolished part of it to reuse the building material elsewhere. Without a permanent tenant, the remainder gradually fell into ruin, and became treated as a folly. The historian and topographer Malden, in 1911 wrote:
Hauntings
The castle is said to be haunted by a black dog that prowls the ruins at night. The grounds of the castle are also said to be haunted. Supposedly, a "Lord Hope" (either a mistaken reference to Henry Thomas Hope or possibly his grandson Francis Pelham-Clinton-Hope, 8th Duke of Newcastle, chased and killed an escaped convict with his sword, only to find out that it was in fact his own son he had killed. "Lord Hope" is said to now walk around the ruins in regret.
Use
A route of public access to the site was created in 2005 along a signposted track across the golf course. The entire ruin is currently surrounded by sturdy railings for safety reasons as there are unstable subterranean cellars. Visitors can get relatively close to the ruins, by studying it through its protective railings. Visitors: The only access to the castle is via a signposted track near the road access to Betchworth Park Golf Club. There is NO access via Castle Gardens, or the river Mole.
