Betchworth Castle

Betchworth Castle is an ancient ruin with remains dating back to 1448. It was once part of the Deepdene estate, a lost landscape now restored and reconnected by the Deepdene Trail.

If you are looking for somewhere historical to take a walk, why not head over to Betchworth Castle - a beautiful hidden ruin with lots of atmosphere. A gentle 10-15 minute walk along a public footpath through Betchworth Golf Club provides you with some beautiful views before you reach the remains. Although it is fenced off you can still walk around the walls and enjoy the peaceful scenery.

This spot that may once have held an Iron Age hill fort, became a fortified manor for Sir John Fitzalan in 1379. In 1448 there were further fortifications and works by Sir Thomas Browne; the north wall and stair turret dating from that time can still be seen today.

By 1691 the Castle was reduced to a much smaller dwelling by a Mr Fenwick, but the core of the building, particularly the great hall that remains today, possibly dates back to the 1570s. Abraham Tucker bought the manor of West Betchworth in 1726-7. He formalised the gardens and ornamental lake and planted a double lime tree avenue to frame a view and another avenue as the approach to the castle.

In 1798, Henry Peters bought Betchworth Castle and spent considerable money renovating it to be a comfortable family home commissioning leading architect Sir John Soane to design the buildings. 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 was bought by David Barclay and later by Henry Hope in 1835. Henry added the castle to the Deepdene estate which he was expanding to include Box Hill and Brockham. In 1835 he decided to reduce Betchworth Castle to a picturesque ruin, removing the roof and much of the work undertaken by Sir John Soane.

The castle is said to be haunted by a black dog that prowls the ruins at night. The grounds of the castle (now Betchworth Park golf course) 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), chased and killed what he thought was an escaped convict with his sword, only to find out that it was his own son he had killed. “Lord Hope” is said to now walk around the ruins in regret.