Brockham

Brockham in a village in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England. 'Broc-ham' is so called from the Anglo Saxon meaning 'river meadow by the brook' and is first recorded in 1241. It is often mistakenly believed that there is an association with badgers but this is a modern affectation from the 1950's when Cecily M Rutley created Brock the Badger in a children's story. It is approximately east of Dorking and 4 mi west of Reigate. The village lies south of Box Hill, with the River Mole flowing west through the village.

On a spur of land to the north west of the village stands Betchworth Castle, originally built by Richard FitzGilbert on land granted to him by William the Conqueror soon after the Norman invasion in 1066, but later replaced by a medieval house which was probably built in the mid to late 14th century. Only a few ruins survive today.

Today’s church is relatively recent - it was commissioned in 1847 by Sir Henry Goulburn, who served as both Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary. Agriculture previously provided most of the employment for villagers, although further work was to be found in the nearby Brockham Hills in the late 19th century, when they were mined for chalk and hearthstone - an operation run by the Brockham Brick Company Limited until 1911.

The village green is a focal point for the village. Once popular for its cricket matches - WG Grace is said to have played there - it is now better known as the site of a Guy Fawkes bonfire every year on the closest Saturday to November 5. About £20,000 is raised each year.

Brockham Primary School merged with The Acorns Infant School in nearby Betchworth on 2 June 2010 to create a new all through primary school now named The North Downs Primary School.