Chertsey grew up around an abbey founded in AD 666, one of the largest in England until Henry VIII closed it. Its first recorded Thames crossing was a ferry-woman called Sibille in 1300, and its stone bridge dates from 1785.
Oldest first
Newest first
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Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
410 – 1066
AD 666
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An abbey by the Thames
Chertsey grew up around Chertsey Abbey, founded in AD 666 by St Erkenwald.
From the records: “It grew up around Chertsey Abbey, founded in AD 666 by St Erkenwald, and gained a market charter from Henry I.”
800s
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Attacked by the Danes
In the 800s, the Danes attacked and plundered the abbey and town. The name of the neighbouring village, Thorpe, is a reminder of them. King Edgar set the abbey up again in 964.
From the records: “In the 9th century, the abbey and town were sacked by the Danes, leaving a mark today in the name of the neighbouring village, Thorpe, and refounded as a subsidiary abbey from Abingdon Abbey by King Edgar in 964.”
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Middle Ages
1066 – 1485
1086
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Certesi in the Domesday Book
The Domesday Book records the manor as 'Certesi', with 65 households.
From the records: “The manor is recorded as Certesi in Domesday Book in 1086 and as Certeseye in 1129–30.”
Early 1100s
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A market town
King Henry I gave Chertsey a charter to hold a market, early in the 1100s. Its parish church also dates back to the 1100s.
From the records: “The Domesday Book of 1087 records a population of 65 households and Chertsey was granted a market charter by Henry I in the early 12th century.”
1250s–1290s
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Letter tiles from the abbey
Tiles with single letters on them, made in the second half of the 1200s, have been found in the ruins of the abbey.
From the records: “From the ruins of the abbey, individual letter tiles dating to the second half of the 13th century were recovered.”
1300
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Sibille the ferry-woman
The first recorded crossing of the Thames at Chertsey was in 1300, when a ferry-woman called Sibille was paid three shillings to carry King Edward I across the river.
From the records: “The first recorded crossing of the Thames at Chertsey is from 1300, when a ferry-woman called Sibille was paid three shillings to carry Edward I across the river.”
1410
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A bridge over the Thames
The first bridge may have been built by John de Rutherwyke, abbot from 1307 to 1346, but a ferry was still reported in 1368 and 1376. In 1410, King Henry IV gave permission to build a bridge over the Thames.
From the records: “The first bridge may have been built by John de Rutherwyke, the abbot of Chertsey from 1307 to 1346, but there are reports of a ferry in 1368 and 1376.”
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Tudors and Stuarts
1485 – 1714
1536
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The abbey is closed
Chertsey Abbey grew into one of the largest Benedictine abbeys in England, until Henry VIII closed it in 1536. By the late 1600s, only some of its outer walls were left.
From the records: “The abbey grew to become one of the largest Benedictine abbeys in England, supported by large fiefs in the northwest corner of Sussex and Surrey until it was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1536.”
1559
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Certesi, Charsey, Chutsey…
Chertsey's name has been spelled many ways: Certesi in 1086, Charsey in 1543 and Chutsey in 1606. The first use of the spelling 'Chertsey' is from 1559.
From the records: “The manor is recorded as Certesi in Domesday Book in 1086 and as Certeseye in 1129–30.”
1573
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Trouble with the wooden bridge
Part of the wooden bridge fell into the Thames and was repaired in 1573–74. In 1661, a document complained that careless bargemen often broke and battered the bridge.
From the records: “Repairs were undertaken in 1573–1574 following a partial collapse of the bridge into the Thames.”
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Georgians
1714 – 1837
1725
Still here today
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A school for fifty children
Sir William Perkins founded a school in 1725. An inscription dated 1725 reads: 'Founded by Sr Wm Perkins … For Fifty Children clothed and taught'. Today it's Sir William Perkins's School, a girls' school.
From the records: “A school was founded in 1725, by Sir William Perkins, who endowed it with £3000 Bank stock, which sum, augmented by an accumulating annual surplus, produces at present nearly £400 per annum; the school has been extended upon the national plan.”
1778
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Beating the rest of England
In the 1700s, Chertsey Cricket Club was one of the strongest in the country. In 1778 it beat the rest of England (apart from Hampshire) by more than an innings.
From the records: “In the 18th century, Chertsey Cricket Club was one of the strongest in the country and beat the rest of England (excluding Hampshire) by more than an innings in 1778.”
1785
Still here today
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A new stone bridge
The old wooden bridge crossed the river at an awkward angle and was called dangerous to boats. A new stone bridge with seven arches, designed by James Paine, was finished in 1785 and cost £13,000.
From the records: “In 1774, the bridge, which crossed the river at an oblique angle, was described as being very inconvenient and dangerous to river traffic, particularly when navigating downstream.”
1808
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A new church building
A new parish church building, with a square tower topped with battlements, was built in 1808. Inside is a memorial to the famous speaker and statesman Charles James Fox.
From the records: “The church, a handsome structure in the later English style, with a square embattled tower, was built with money raised on annuities, in 1808; it contains a tablet to the memory of the celebrated orator and statesman, Charles James Fox, and several monuments to the Mawbey family.”
1813
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A lock out of sight
A 1793 plan for a lock was turned down by Parliament, and an 1805 plan was resisted by local landowners. A plan was approved in 1810, and Lord Lucan, who owned the manor of Laleham, asked for it to be changed so the lock was out of view of his home. Chertsey Lock opened in 1813.
From the records: “The land was surveyed for a lock in 1793, producing a bill which was disallowed by Parliament.”
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Victorians
1837 – 1901
1838
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Chertsey in Oliver Twist
Charles Dickens mentions Chertsey Bridge in Chapter 31 of his 1838 novel Oliver Twist.
From the records: “Chertsey Bridge is mentioned in Chapter XXXI of the 1838 novel, Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens and appears in the 1945 comedy‑drama film, The Rake's Progress.”
1847
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A famous comedy
John Maddison Morton was living in Chertsey when he wrote the comedy Box and Cox in 1847. In 1891, The New York Times called it 'the best farce of the nineteenth century'.
From the records: “John Maddison Morton was living in Chertsey when he wrote Box and Cox (1847), which The New York Times in 1891 called "the best farce of the nineteenth century".”
1848
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The railway arrives
Chertsey's first station opened on 14 February 1848. Today's station, across the level crossing from the first one, opened on 10 October 1866.
From the records: “The original Chertsey railway station was built by the London and Southampton Railway and opened on 14 February 1848.”
1800s
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Bells and iron
Chertsey has a long history of metalworking. In the 1800s, the Eldridge bell foundry in Windsor Street did well, and Herrings iron foundry in Gogmore Lane flourished.
From the records: “A long history of metal working exists, and from the 19th century a prosperous bell foundry, Eldridge, was in Windsor Street.”
1891
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A runaway barge
In October 1891, during a flood, a barge broke free of its moorings and damaged a pier holding up the bridge's centre arch. The repairs were finished in late 1894.
From the records: “In October 1891, a barge broke free of its moorings during a flood and damaged one of the piers supporting the centre arch.”
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The World Wars
1901 – 1945
1939
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St Peter's Hospital
St Peter's Hospital was first meant to treat casualties of the Second World War. It officially began on 12 September 1939. Hospital Radio Wey has broadcast to its patients and staff since 1965.
From the records: “Peter's Hospital, originally intended to serve casualties of World War II, formally came into being on 12 September 1939.”
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Modern times
Since 1945
1964
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Chertsey on the big screen
Chertsey appears briefly in the 1964 film First Men in the Moon, with the Old Town Hall standing in for Dymchurch Town Hall.
From the records: “Chertsey made a fleeting appearance in the 1964 classic film First Men in the Moon with the Old Town Hall standing in for Dymchurch Town Hall.”
1968
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A miniature railway
The Great Cockcrow Railway, a miniature railway off Hardwick Lane, opened in September 1968. Its track is just 7¼ inches wide.
From the records: “This 7.25" gauge miniature railway, off Hardwick Lane, opened in September 1968.”
1969
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A museum full of costumes
In 1969, Olive Matthews gave her costume collection to Chertsey Museum. It has around 3,000 pieces and is of national importance.
From the records: “The museum holds the Olive Matthews costume collection, which is of national importance, contains around three thousand pieces of costume and was donated by Matthews to the museum in 1969.”
1991
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The bridge closes for repairs
After worries about its strength, Chertsey Bridge closed to all traffic from May to December 1991 for repairs. Vehicles used a temporary Bailey bridge across the river instead.
From the records: “Following a structural survey in 1986, concerns were raised over the strength of the bridge and the condition of the stonework.”
2019
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Winning at Wembley
Chertsey Town Football Club won the FA Vase at Wembley in the 2018–19 season.
From the records: “Chertsey Town F.C. won the FA Vase at Wembley in 2018/19.”