Бечворт: История и современность английской деревни Суррея

Betchworth is a village and civil parish in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England. The village centre is on the north bank of the River Mole and south of the A25 road, almost east of Dorking and west of Reigate. London is north of the village. Service sector occupations dominate Betchworth's economy – its station and road links make it a part of the London commuter belt – combined with crop agriculture and services for a relatively large retired proportion of the population. A former lime quarry, rebuilt manor house and Grade I listed church are within its boundaries.

State records show the name as Becesworde (11th century), Beceswrde (12th century) and Bechesworth (13th century). The name is generally agreed to mean a "farm or enclosure belonging to a person or family called Becci".

Bronze Age artefacts have been found at Betchworth only since 1944. No Roman villas, farms or camps have been found.

Betchworth lay within the Wotton hundred and appears in two entries#tag:ref|Malden states it is uncertain if the part with Thorncroft Manor is still in the parish or is part of Dorking Parish A distinct part named Thorncroft is mentioned in the first listing which was split by five overlords in 1066 before the conquest, Lewis (1848) and Malden (1911) say this relates to the formerly detached part in the west that is now between Brockham and Dorking. Hamelin's grandson John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey owned much land in Surrey and his widow left the land to his nephew the Earl of Arundel, who eventually left the manor to Lord Abergavenny. The 9th Lord Abergavenny sold it in 1629 for £1,080 to Sir Ralph Freeman, in whose family's hands it remained until 1817 when it was sold to Henry Goulburn.]] To supply the cement for construction associated with required brick built housing, a rich seam of suitable chalk and limestone was identified in the North Downs. Broome Park estate, extending to the top of the hill, included some of these quarries and was integral to the Dorking Grey Stone and Lime Company and the North Downs Line's spur lines leading to these three pits. After an Act authorising the railway from Reading to Reigate was passed in 1847 and its construction, opening in 1849
In 1911 A History of the County of Surrey by Malden which is also a county guide, records the earlier key dates in the industry and records that "the chalk furnishes the chief industry There are also brickyards in the parish, which is, however, mostly agricultural and residential". at the top end of The Street. In 1924 a hydrator plant at Betchworth Limeworks was installed for slaking the lime.

Betchworth Conservation Area contains 22 listed buildings and the church of St Michael, the only Grade I building.

The ruins of Betchworth Castle in Betchworth Park are a couple of miles west of Betchworth in the west of Brockham civil parish.

St Michael's Church, Betchworth is Church of England, immediately northwest of the village green and is Grade I listed. Most of the church on the Betchworth site now occupied by St Michael's dates to the early 13th century, and in a pillar of the tower's south window there remains a fragment of the stone Saxon church. The south aisle chapel became known as the Hope Chapel after Henry Thomas Hope bought the Manor in 1838. A tall war memorial is outside of the main west entrance of the building. A particular fine example of medieval Gothic architecture pointed arches is in this church throughout its long nave and forming the entrance to its alcoves. It was used for the first scene of Richard Curtis's film Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). And with the church behind you the village street was used for the very first shot in David Lean's film Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

Broome Park is a Grade II listed early 19th century house. It was the home of Sir Benjamin Brodie, the royal physician. After his death in 1862, it was sold to General Sir Percy R. B. Feilding, son of the 7th Earl of Denbigh, and was later the home of his daughter, Lady Louisa Feilding (d.1918). It is now a nursing home.

At the local level Betchworth Parish Council provides certain local facilities and services.

Betchworth is within Mole Valley parliamentary constituency.

Betchworth is 3 mile (5 km) east of Dorking and 3 mile (5 km) west of Reigate. The village is 20 mile (32 km) south of London, in the outer London commuter belt.

Formation of the North Downs and the erosion that has taken place widely with repeated sea inundations and deposition is described in detail in the Geology of Surrey. Mammoth fossilised bone remains have been found below flint beds under considerable clay in the low hills by the bank of the River Mole in Betchworth. Most of the parish has free draining slightly acid loamy soil. This is the natural spur to the trees that line the top as it produces extremely fertile pastures and deciduous woodland. In the 2001 census, Betchworth had 919 residents, of whom 26.5% were aged over 65; 4.8% of the population were in full time further education; 74.5% of all men were economically active whereas 2.5% were unemployed and 4.2% worked part time; 56.1% of all women were economically active whereas 1.6% were unemployed and 35.1% worked part time. With its rail station and road links it forms part of the London commuter belt. Cleaning and gardening companies find a strong local market. Crop, chicken and pasture agriculture as well as a relatively large retired proportion of the population. The former lime quarry is managed by workers from Surrey Wildlife Trust and English Heritage. Great Brockhamhurst Farm is one of eleven farms in Betchworth and produces cereals and breeds horses. Root Hill farm is a farm and missionary camp. Local businesses include an air filters company. Yellow Pages: Westbury Filters, Betchworth and kennels. Hartsfield Manor Hotel is a major local employer with a long entrance drive off Sandy Lane has of parkland containing a small gatehouse called Ye Olde Gatehouse and serves also as a Wedding and conference venue. Betchworth Park Golf Club holding in its grounds the ruined Betchworth castle is in Brockham though keeps the historic association with Betchworth.

Betchworth Memorial Hall is a large village hall with a wooden floor, a high ceiling and a stage, making it suitable for self nominated activities including badminton, lectures, receptions, and local operatics and drama, with seating for 150 people; leads to a smaller community room, the Geoffrey Browne Room, for 40/50 people available for hire separately. There is a 21st century construction kitchen which can serve either hall, and all are available for hire.

An Archives/Meeting Room, The Hamilton Room, suitable for meetings of 30/40 people, and small parties with adjoining kitchen and all amenities, is situated in conservation area Church Street in the centre of the village. Within it is a room housing village archives, known as the Meg Ryan Room.

Goulburn Green, the alternative name for the Village Green has stalls and maypole dancing in the children costumed May bank holiday Medieval Fayre, hosts occasional summer celebrations and is the venue of the Harvest Lunch in alternate years. James Hamilton donated the Green.

Betchworth parish council operates six full size allotments at the rear of The Walled Garden allocated at a nominal fee.

A Post Office with banking facilities is on Old Reigate Road, to the north of the village.

A popular local pastime is walking because in the Vale of Holmesdale and elsewhere. The Parish Council website has details of four walks.

Trains call at Betchworth at approximately hourly intervals in each direction in the morning and evening peaks and at two hourly intervals off peak. The route is known as the North Downs Line and runs between the stations of Reading and Gatwick Airport. Other stations along this route include Dorking (Deepdene), Guildford, Reigate and Redhill.

The A25 road that runs from the county of Kent to Guildford via Reigate and Dorking skirts the north of the village centre. From its roundabout on the A25, less major roads provide a cut through towards Walton on the Hill, via the notoriously steep Pebble Hill, a route towards Sutton, London, the M25's Reigate Hill junction or Leatherhead and minor routes to the south connect southern villages, including Leigh, Surrey. A road intersections of the A25 are in Dorking (A24) and at the foot of Reigate Hill in Reigate (A217).

North Downs Primary School is state paid and has ones of its three sites in the village.