Chertsey Bridge was another favourite play area for everyone.
It was first built with timber, in 14th century.
In 1780 it was rebuilt in white stone by local monumental mason, James Paine.
Mr. Paine, was a very particular craftsman, and would build any structure exactly to plan.
The design was for a five-arched bridge, which he completed on time and within the budget.
Unfortunately the bridge did not quite reach either bank.
As a result of this oversight, the roadway on both sides were several feet below the bridge roadway,
Monty Pythons, John Cleese, may have said “ Mr. Paine, you have built a very lovely bridge, I like it it a lot, I have nothing against your bridge, unfortunately, neither have the two banks.
This could be were the expression; a monumental disaster originated.
Two more dry arches were built, this time in brick, as can be seen today.
Before the start of the Second World War, the Bridge was a place for river steamers to berth, and in Dumsey Deep Meadow, several refreshment wagons would serve the passengers.
As children we would cross the bridge to the Middlesex side, and follow the towpath to the Bathing Pavilion, where the bank had been built up with stone to make it a safe place to swim
A Polio outbreak in the late 40s, which claimed many young lives in Chertsey, was blamed on the dirty water of the Thames.
Although the river is much cleaner now, it has never regained the popularity it once had.
Madeinchertsey 