“Shallows causing all sorts of difficulties.” That’s how the River Thames near Chertsey Lock was once described. This area was known as Laleham Gulls. Can you believe this tranquil spot was once a headache for boats?
Chertsey Lock stands on the River Thames. It sits against the left bank. This area is part of a Green Belt. Laleham Park, Spelthorne’s largest public park, is included. The lock faces the town of Chertsey. It is the fifth-lowest of the forty-four locks on the non-tidal part of the river. Both banks at the lock site have been in Surrey since medieval times. This is due to a change in the river’s course. Stone-built Chertsey Bridge is just 210 meters south of the lock.
The City of London Corporation built Chertsey Lock in 1813. It was lengthened in 1893 and again in 1913. The lock is next to a small island. This island was created when the lock was built. You can reach it by boat. It connects to Chertsey Weir.
Before the lock, boats often ran aground here. Proposals were made to build up the banks. A weir and lock were suggested. The land was surveyed for a lock in 1793. Parliament disallowed the bill. Another proposal came in 1805. It suggested a cut along Laleham. A pound lock would be at the lower end. Local landowners opposed it.
In 1810, Parliament authorized a proposal. It was a short way upstream. Lord Lucan owned the manor of Laleham. He asked for changes. He wanted it out of view of his home. He had spent money building and redesigning it. He even hosted the ousted Portuguese monarch there. The Thames Navigation Act of 1812 authorized the downstream site. Building began there.
Chertsey Lock opened in 1813. The lock-house on the left bank was finished then too. The lock was lengthened in 1893 and 1913. Originally, the lock had two compartments. The central gates have since been removed.
The lock is easy to reach via the left bank. This is the towpath. It joins Thames Side, a road. Downstream, you’ll find places to eat and drink. The Kingfisher and the Boathouse are nearby. They are on opposite banks near Chertsey Bridge.
Lord Lucan, an ancestor of the infamous Lord Lucan, once owned this land. He claimed the lock spoiled his view. So, the lock house was built lower into the ground.
The lock is home to much wildlife. Keep an eye out for kingfishers. Herons and Egyptian geese are common. You might even see a mink or stoat.
The Thames Path runs along the left bank. It goes above and below Chertsey Lock. As you continue your journey remember the efforts to make the river navigable. Chertsey Lock stands as a testament to those efforts and the changing landscape of the Thames.