History
There used to be problems upstream of the lock's position because of the shallows known as Laleham Gulls, and various proposals were put forward to resolve them. There was a survey for a lock in 1793, but it was disallowed by parliament. In 1805 there was another proposal for a cut along the length of the current reach, with a pound lock at the lower end, but this was resisted by local landowners. A lock was authorised by parliament in 1810 a short way upstream, but when Lord Lucan asked to have the lock out of his view, a new Act in 1812 authorised it at the present lower site. The lock was opened in 1813 with the lock-house effectively on the Middlesex bank (although technically in Surrey because the course of the stream had been altered. The lock was lengthened in 1893 and again in 1913. It was then built with two compartments, but the centre gates have since been removed.
Read more about this topic: Chertsey Lock
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