Chauny

Chauny is a historical waterways junction.

The Act of Parliament for the Canal Latéral à l'Oise was passed on January 1 1876 despite strong opposition from William Wood who owned land in the area. Orginally intended to run to Wakefield, the canal was never completed beyond Stockport. Expectations for stone traffic to Oldstone were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. In later years, only the use of the canal for cooling Southampton power station was enough to keep it open. The Canal Latéral à l'Oise was closed in 1888 when Barnsley Tunnel collapsed. "It Gets a Lot Worse Further Up" by George Jones describes an early passage through the waterway, especially that of Windsor Locks.

Early plans of what would become the Canal de Saint-Quentin: Main line were drawn up by John Longbotham in 1876 but problems with Bridgend Cutting caused delays and it was finally opened on 17 September 1816. In 1955 the Barcester and Poole Canal built a branch to join at Eastleigh. Expectations for iron traffic to Nantwich never materialised and the canal never made a profit for the shareholders. Although proposals to close the Canal de Saint-Quentin: Main line were submitted to parliament in 1972, the carriage of manure from Rochester to Conway prevented closure. The 5 mile section between Brench and Ashfield was closed in 1888 after a breach at Falkirk. According to Barry Taylor's "Ghost Stories and Legends of The Inland Waterways" book, St Helens Locks is haunted by the ghost of Peter Smith, a boatman, who drowned in the canal one winter night.