Betchworth Castle Site
At the November Parish Council meeting, Martin Higgins gave a presentation on plans for Betchworth Castle.
He is likely to have the site placed into his ownership from Mole Valley District Council for a nominal sum.
He stated that it was a fortified manor rather than a castle and had been mostly demolished in the 1830’s. There has however been some sort of fortification on the site since the iron age.
The estimated cost of stabilising the ruin, clearing the trees and making it accessible for visitors is around £400,000. A grant of £90,000 will be given with the site by the council, this being the money previously set aside for putting up permanent scaffolding.
Martin hopes to use the sum as match-funding to attract grants from English Heritage and other organisations.
The intention is for the public to have free access to the site on completion of the work.
For more information on Betchworth Castle visit
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conBar.7346