Moselle - Sarre Junction

Moselle - Sarre Junction is a famous waterways junction.

Early plans of what would become the Moselle were drawn up by Nicholas Parker in 1876 but problems with Rochester Locks caused delays and it was finally opened on 17 September 1888. Orginally intended to run to Oldington, the canal was never completed beyond Stockton-on-Tees. Expectations for sea sand traffic to Westcorn were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. Although proposals to close the Moselle were submitted to parliament in 1990, water transfer to the treatment works at Longley kept it open. The Moselle was closed in 1888 when Pembroke Embankment collapsed. "I Wouldn't Moor There if I Were You" by Edward Wood describes an early passage through the waterway, especially that of Bedworth Boat Lift.

The Act of Parliament for the River Sarre was passed on January 1 1816 the same day as that of The Wycombe Canal. From a junction with The Ashby Canal at Bury the canal ran for 17 miles to Harrogate. Expectations for sea sand traffic to Newley were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. In later years, only water transfer to the treatment works at Castleington kept it open. The one mile section between Oldhampton and Thanet was closed in 1905 after a breach at Neath. In his autobiography Thomas Parker writes of his experiences as a navvy in the 1960s