The Age of Empire
The town took a leap forward when the present stone Chertsey Bridge was built adjacent to the medieval structure in 
1785 by James Paine of Sayes Court, Addlestone. This was to basically improve the post service. It was to have cost £7,325, but due to a design oversight by Paine, an extra arch either side had to be constructed which cost another £2,800.
The old bridge timbers were sold off to Paine for £120.
The better access to Chertsey over the river from London, was a contributory factor to one of the great men of the age coming to live on St Ann's Hill at the end of the century. Charles James Fox, 3rd son of Henry Fox 1st Lord Holland was called “the finest Prime Minister Britain never had”.
He was leader of the Whig Party, and friend of the Prince Regent. He spoke out eloquently against slavery and other matters, and was one of the great orators of his day in Parliament, especially after a night’s session at the gaming tables. His father cleared his gaming debts of £140,000 and he later gave up gambling. altogether, so he was able to afford to own most of St. Ann's Hill. His last words were, “I die happy”. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.
A large portrait bust of Charles James Fox has been erected in April 2006 in the new development in Guildford St. This was paid for by Countryside Ltd. The panel on the plinth is notated by local historian, David Wheeler. Charles James Fox’s wife, Elizabeth took a great deal of interest in the town after his death, 
and she is buried in St. Peter’s Church graveyard. It is said on the day of her funeral, the Chertsey shop keepers shut up their shops to stand and line the streets when her cortege passed. The Fox’s mansion on St Ann’s Hill was demolished between the wars. The old Tudor market hall (and town lock up) which stood on the site of the present war memorial had a carving of a negro’s head which was popularly thought to be connected with their anti slavery concerns of the day. This small building was pulled down in 1851.
There were various fairs such as the Feast of St Ann, the Onion Fair, the Goose Fair, the Horse Fair, and the Black Cherry Fair about this time. Chertsey Cricket Club was established. The deadly accurate underarm bowler, ‘Lumpy Steven’, invented the middle stump here in 1776. Sir William Perkins started a school for boys at Curfew House Windsor St. in 1784. In 1833 the oldest Agricultural Society in the country was formed in Chertsey and is still going strong with a large show, and one ploughing match a year. Mary Augusta Lady Holland came to live on St Ann’s Hill at Ruxbury House. It is said that she bought a large number of Italian servants with her and which formed the bedrock of the Italian community in Chertsey today.
Chertsey town had an extra lift with the arrival of the railway which became fully developed in the 1860s. The railway transformed the town from ‘rural’, to ‘rural urban fringe’ (of London). 
There was a great deal of building which started up that end of the town. In the 1830’s, Charles Dickens visited the town with his friend and fellow author Anna Maria Hall of Addlestone making notes. From these he put Chertsey Bridge and Gogmore House (since demolished) into the out of town robbery part of his book, ‘Oliver Twist’. Thomas Love Peacock the poet lived here during this period. Rose Hardwicke Thorpe wrote ‘The Curfew shall not ring tonight’ poem in reference to the Blanche Heriot legend.
The Surrey Herald has recorded the historic events of the town whether wittingly and unwittingly. The first office was in Windsor Street. The proprietor Mr Ledger lived next door in ‘The Cedars’ before it was divided into two and was one of the most influential people of the group who were known as ‘The Families’. It was he who gave garden parties in the large garden which was surrounded by cedar trees. These parties were given after each general election to celebrate the winner (always Conservative). Choir boys from St. Peter’s Church were invited to these festivities as they were the ‘good boys of the town’. He would also give dinner parties on the first floor of ‘The Cedars’ for those who ran the town and sat on the influential committees, which included some of ‘the County Set’.
The dining room in is this building is now the main picture gallery of Chertsey Museum. The gentleman connoisseur of fine art in the town, Mr Bernard Pardoe, was part of the Trust who bought the house in 1970 and he is commemorated by having the new extension named after him. A stylish ‘Art Deco building was built for the Surrey Herald on demolished premises and a printing shop was extended down Alwyns Lane in the 1930.s. This was site was sold off for office development at the end of the last century, and the Surrey Herald Offices which is part of the Trinity Mirror Southern group moved to the present premises in Eastworth Rd.
There was severe flooding in the town in 1894 which was recorded comprehensively for the first time by the medium of photography. George Francis Gabriel des Bignes built two steam submarines on the Thames for the Turkish Navy in 1886. They did not go into service, so do not show in history books of submarines. A good deal of boat building and other high quality engineering went on in the town and in the bridge area. There was an ancient wharf before the present bridge to take felled oaks off to all parts. Chertsey Regatta was and still is thankfully a feature of summers by the Thames.