Lift off for a special year of exciting celebrations in 2025 to mark the 150th anniversary of Anderton Boat Lift, the world’s first major commercial boat lift, Cheshire’s Cathedral of Canals in Northwich.
Raising the roof
Raising the roof at this unique Scheduled Monument, we will be transporting visitors back in time to 1875 by hosting a spectacular Victorian Fair over the anniversary weekend of July 25-27.
During the rest of the summer season, as well as boat trips through the Lift, visitors will be able to enjoy a host of other fantastic events, including Steam at the Lift (May 10/11), Pirates Weekend (June 21/22), Old Time Sailors Concert (July 4) and Steampunk Lift Off Weekender (September 27/28).
Designated one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways, Anderton Boat Lift was designed by engineer Edwin Clark to connect the Trent & Mersey Canal with the River Weaver Navigation 50 feet below and opened on 26 July 1875. Although it has been re-engineered several times, the lift has successfully carried boats between the two waterways for most of its 150 years, with only a couple of decades out of action in the 1980s and 1990s due to safety concerns caused by corrosion.
At the turn of the Millenium, more than £7 million was raised to fund a major restoration and the boat lift began operating again on 26 March 2002. Since then, it has attracted thousands of visitors to Northwich to marvel at the incredible engineering masterpiece and enjoy a trip aboard the Edwin Clark boat, named after the lift’s designer.
A unique iconic structure
Richard Parry, our chief executive, said: “Anderton Boat Lift is a unique, iconic structure and it’s amazing now to be marking its 150th anniversary as a working boat lift. For more than 20 years it has been run as a popular visitor attraction, as well as being used by 3,000 boaters passing between the river and canal each year.
“It’s so important that we secure the funding for its renovation and refurbishment so that its place in history is retained, and to keep this unique, much-loved heritage structure operational for future generations.”
Engineering the Future
We're currently working to develop an ambitious ‘Engineering the Future’ project to revitalise Anderton Boat Lift and Visitor Centre, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Lift needs a major upgrade to keep it operational. The whole structure requires blast cleaning, repairing and re-painting, the timber control cabin replacing and IT operating system updating.
The project also includes plans to upgrade the visitor centre with a new flexible event space to replace the current marquee, plus the development of a new learning, skills and outreach programme. Refurbishment work is targeted to start next autumn and expected to take 12 – 18 months, with a total estimated cost of £13.5 - £15 million.
Ani Sutton, our destinations and attractions manager, said: “We would love to see as many people as possible join us to celebrate this special anniversary year, particularly as the upgrade programme is on the horizon for the autumn. The boat lift is part of our incredible industrial heritage and it’s still such a thrill to watch it transporting boats between the two waterways after 150 years.”
During the 2025 main summer season, Anderton Boat Lift and visitor centre will be open six days a week (closed Thursdays), 9.30am – 4.30pm, offering four boat trips a day. There is a charge for boat trips but entrance to the visitor exhibition, shop and café are free.
