About Anderton Boat Lift
Anderton Boat Lift, Cheshire’s historic ‘Cathedral of the Canals’, needs urgent work to prevent it from falling into disrepair and facing possible closure.
The unique 150-year-old structure was the world’s first major commercial boat lift and now requires an upgrade to enable the ageing machinery to continue transporting around 3,000 boats a year between the Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Weaver Navigation some 50 feet below. Without the lift, boaters would be forced to make long detours.
The lift is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and is a priceless piece of our living heritage. It was brought back to life through a complete restoration over 20 years ago and we constantly invest in the upkeep and maintenance of the structure, but now major refurbishment work is now required.
In addition to the work required to preserve and protect the iconic structure, there is a plan to invest in the site to enhance the visitor experience and create an even better day out. We will celebrate Anderton through installing new indoor and outdoor event areas, adding more play areas and providing more space for education programmes and opportunities.
