Toponymy
The first written mention of Chertsey is by Bede , in which he describes the location as ''Cerotaesei, id est Ceroti insula'' (translated as "Chertsey, that is the island of ''Cerotus''"). The settlement appears in 13th-century copies of 7th-century charters as ''Cirotesige'', ''Cirotesge'' and ''Cerotesge''. The manor is recorded as ''Certesi'' inHistory
Chertsey is one of the oldest market towns in England. ItsGeography
Location and topography
Chertsey is part of the London commuter belt in the outermost part of the Greater London Urban Area and is served byGeology
Chertsey town centre lies on aEconomy
Aside from being a London "commuter town", Chertsey is home to the head office of Compass Group,Landmarks
Chertsey Bridge
Chertsey Bridge is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade II* listed structure that has a listed ''City (of London tax) Post'' at one end, and nearby milestones. It is predominantly of ashlar light stone with two white flagstone york stone pavements with a low weight limit and narrow carriageways inappropriate to HGVs, which have Staines Bridge,Museum
Chertsey has an admission-free museum on Windsor Street, which provides considerable information about the history of Chertsey. 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. The museum contains clocks by two local makers, James Douglass and Henry Wale Cartwright. (Note however that there were three successive watchmakers called James Douglass (or Douglas) in the Douglas family, the latter based in Egham)Hospital
St. Peter's Hospital, originally intended to serve casualties of theSt Peter's Church
St Peter's church has a 13th/14th-century west tower (with 18th-century bricks above the belfry) and east chancel; a collection of the Abbey's paving tiles is in its sanctuary; several are also in theCurfew House and 25 Windsor Street
Curfew House is four narrow houses west of the church, a taller red brick building in a group of five buildings of the same era; the name derives from the cruel King John and Blanche Heriot history and story which took place in the town centre. Below an openPyrcroft House
Pyrcroft House on Pyrcroft Road leading to St Ann's Hill is a Grade II* listed building that was referenced byBotley Park and Bournewood House
OwnerSport and leisure
Football
Chertsey has a Non-League football club, Chertsey Town F.C. who play at Alwyns Lane.Chertsey Meads
Chertsey Meads adjoin a start of a southern variant of the Thames Path on the south bank from where the path crosses the river at Chertsey Bridge. On the north of this park is the main Thameside development, the Bridge Wharf estate, through which passes this strand of the Thames Path, the long northern border then follows the Thames towards Addlestone to the confluence, by private houses, on the south side of theGreat Cockcrow Railway
This 7.25" gauge miniature railway is off Hardwick Lane, Lyne and opened in September 1968.The Black Cherry Fair
This is an annual event on the 2nd Saturday of July each year with live music and refreshments.Education
Schools in Chertsey include; *St Anne's Roman Catholic primary school *Salesian Catholic Secondary School (split site) *Pyrcroft Grange Primary (former split site) *Stepgates Community School *Chertsey High School
Chertsey High School is a non-faith school which welcomes children from different faiths and non-faith backgrounds, whilst maintaining strong Christian principles; the school ethos is ''Knowledge, Determination and Love''. It opened in 2017 using the buildings that remained from the original Meads School, built in 1965. During a two-year occupancy, a new school building was developed alongside, opposite Clay Corner on the Chertsey Road. In 2019, the new school building opened its doors to 450 students, and has the capacity for 900 students over the coming years. The school has developed state-of-the-art facilities, including a 3G sports pitch, which it shares with its neighbours, Abbey Rangers Football Club.Salesian School
The Salesian School is a state-funded, voluntary-aided Catholic comprehensive school with endowments for 1,200 pupils, located in Chertsey since the 1920s.Religion
*St. Anne's Church is a Catholic church in Eastworth road. St. Anne's School is a Catholic Primary school in Free Prae road. Salesian School is a Catholic Secondary school and Sixth Form College located in Guildford Road and Highfield Road respectively. *St. Peter's is a town-centre Anglican church with a range of ministries. Sunday worship is held at 9 am (traditional) and 10.30 am (contemporary). *Beacon Church is a Community Church based on Guildford Street in central Chertsey. *The International Community Church of Surrey, a non-denominational, international congregation, meets at Chertsey Hall each week. *Equippers Church is based at the Hub near Chertsey High School and meets each Sunday and in homes during the week.Transport
;Rail Chertsey station is on the Chertsey branch line linking theIn fiction and popular culture
Literary connections
*Television and film
*The final series of the TV series '' Public Eye'' (1965–1975) was filmed in and around Chertsey. *The TV series ''Chertsey Panto
The Chertsey Panto has been performed since 2012 in aid of local charities at The Crown public house in Chertsey.Radio Wey
Notable residents
* Richard Steere (1721) colonial American poet and merchant born in Chertsey. * Rev'd Peter Cunningham (1805) political poet and cleric died in Chertsey. *See also
*Notes
References
Bibliography
* * * * * * *External links