Thread: Betchworth Castle

From Location Posts

Nice pics you have there Brains, Pity I missed out on the cellars, they look interesting, but not overly big if my mind serves me well..

It was certainly an interesting place and a good trip (apart from the rain and near freezing temperatures) I've got some pictures of varying quality from the day which I'll try to post up during the week, but a lot came out badly because of the miserable weather conditions (My camera hates water), I reckon Brains got the best pics of the day that time.


I'll also see about researching some more of the history and report on my findings.

James Hall

I have uploaded three photographs to the gallery under Betchworth Castle, as I said they're of varying quality.

Originally Posted by Brains

Information from a good website.

House type- Fortified Manor House , timber castle

Amount of remains- masonary ruins, remnants

Site description- 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 1377, 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. The house subsequently underwent several phases of alteration and redevelopment, including a major remodelling during the mid-C15.

The site is a scheduled ancient monument, and is Grade II listed.

It turns out that this is quoted from the site description on English Heritage’s National Monuments Record (NMR) for the site. For reference, The full text of the report can be found online here: http://pastscape.english-heritage.or...?hob_no=397422

James Hall