What is recorded here

Betchworth Castle is the last surviving medieval fortified manor house in Surrey, a fact that makes its quiet survival remarkable. It escaped the destructive sweeps of the Civil War because its light defences offered no temptation to break, while grander castles nearby were torn apart. The castle belongs to women as much as men, for Eleanor held it through the bloody turns of the Roses war while her husbands and sons lost their lives or freedoms.

The National Heritage List for England records Betchworth Castle as a scheduled monument. The saved point comes from the centre supplied by the official record. Listing does not by itself mean that the public may enter the place.

Betchworth Castle was built by the Bishop of Winchester in the 14th century as a hunting lodge and defensive stronghold. It is important as a well-preserved example of a medieval bishop's castle and is now a scheduled monument protected for its historical and archaeological significance.

The historic-place record does not grant public access. Check current conditions and ownership before entering land or a building.