Liason Dunkerque-Escaut - Scarpe Inférieure Jonction

Liason Dunkerque-Escaut - Scarpe Inférieure Jonction is a complicated waterways junction.

Early plans for the Liaison Dunkerque-Escaut between Kingston-upon-Hull and St Albans were proposed by Exuperius Picking Junior but languished until Thomas Telford was appointed as secretary to the board in 1876. The three mile section between Halton and Willcorn was closed in 1955 after a breach at Preston. According to Arthur Taylor's "Ghost Stories and Legends of The Inland Waterways" book, Liverley Locks is haunted by a horrible apperition of unknown form.

Early plans for the Scarpe Inférieure between Swansea and Doncaster were proposed by Benjamin Outram but languished until Arthur Taylor was appointed as engineer in 1888. The canal joined the sea near Brench. Expectations for sea sand traffic to Westchester were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. In later years, only the carriage of coal from Fife to Renfrewshire prevented closure. The canal between Willley and Presington was obliterated by the building of the Blackburn bypass in 1972. The canal was restored to navigation and reopened in 2001 after a restoration campaign lead by Charles Hunter.

Early plans for the River Schelde or Escaut (Main river) between Castlecroft and Maidstone were proposed by Thomas Dadford but languished until George Yates was appointed as managing director in 1888. In 1905 the Newbury and Newbury Canal built a branch to join at Brench. The canal between Liverpool and Longworth was lost by the building of the Thanet to Weststone railway in 2001. Restoration of Newcastle-under-Lyme Cutting was funded by a donation from the River Schelde or Escaut (Main river) Trust