Betsom's Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Betsom's Hill |
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View of Betsom's Hill from the south-west
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 251 m (823 ft) |
| Listing | County Top |
| Geography | |
 Betsom's Hill
Location in Kent
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| Location | Westerham, England |
| OS grid | TQ 4355 5633 |
Betsom's Hill is a hill located on the North Downs. It is the highest point in the county of Kent, reaching a height of 251 meters (823 feet). You can find it between the towns of Westerham and Tatsfield, right at the western edge of Kent.
The hill is close to where the A233 road crosses the Downs on its way to Biggin Hill. This area is the highest part of the North Downs, with Botley Hill being the highest point nearby to the west. Betsom's Hill is also part of the Kent Downs, which is a special place known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
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A Look at Betsom's Hill's Past
The very top of Betsom's Hill was once home to a Victorian defense fort. This fort was one of twelve built along the North Downs. Their purpose was to protect London from any possible attacks by invaders crossing the English Channel.
This fort was known as Betsom's Hill Fort or Westerham Fort. It was part of the London Defence Positions plan. Its main jobs were to be a meeting point for volunteer soldiers and a safe place to store ammunition. The fort had strong walls, underground rooms (called casemates), and a special building for storing gunpowder (a magazine).
Today, parts of the fort have been taken down. The remaining sections have been turned into workshops. Private homes, fittingly named Fort Cottages, now stand where the fort once was.
Exploring the Geography of Betsom's Hill
The very highest part of Betsom's Hill is not marked and is on private land. This means it's the only county high point in England that the public cannot easily visit.
However, the lower parts of the hill are much more open. The North Downs Way, a long walking path, goes right below the hill's peak in an area called Hill Park. Running alongside the bottom of the steep slope (known as a scarp slope) is another very old path, the Pilgrims' Way.
A famous artist and craftsman named John Paul Cooper chose Betsom's Hill as the place for his home, workshop, and studio. He designed his house in the Arts and Crafts style. This design reflected the traditional buildings found in Kent. He lived there until he passed away in 1933.
Westerham Heights: A Neighboring Peak
Westerham Heights is also part of Betsom's Hill, even though it has its own name. It is the highest point in Greater London, reaching 245 meters (804 feet).
You can find Westerham Heights right next to the A233 road. This is where the boundary of Greater London crosses the hill. On the north-west side of Betsom's Hill, there's another interesting spot. It's a tripoint, which is where the borders of three different areas meet. In this case, the borders of Surrey, Kent, and Greater London all meet at a place called Rag Hill.
Westerham Hill: A Cycling Challenge
Westerham Hill is the name given to the part of the A233 road that climbs up Betsom's Hill to Westerham Heights. In August 1887, this road was the location for one of the very first bicycle hill climbs. At the time, people thought it was almost impossible to complete because the road was so steep and not yet paved.
Twenty-four people took part in this challenging event. They used all sorts of bicycles, including tall penny-farthings, tricycles, and the newer "safety bicycles." All of these bikes had solid tires, which made the ride even harder! The event was organized by the Catford Cycling Club. Only half of the riders managed to finish the climb. A rider on a penny-farthing came in fourth place, but the winner was riding a safety bike.
Westerham Hill was used for sixteen more of these hill climb events. Other hills in Kent also hosted similar races. Today, a modern hill climb event is still held nearby at Yorks Hill.
