Anderton Boat Lift: Engineering the Future project

About Anderton Boat Lift

Anderton Boat Lift, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways, needs urgent work to prevent it from falling into disrepair and facing possible closure.

The Lift is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is a priceless piece of our living heritage. The unique 150-year-old structure was the world’s first major commercial boat lift and currently transports 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.

Following a period of disrepair, the Lift was brought back to life through a complete restoration over 20 years ago and although we constantly invest in the upkeep and maintenance of the structure, now major work to upgrade its systems is a priority.

In addition to the refurbishment work required to preserve and protect the iconic structure, Engineering The Future has plans to invest in the site itself - to enhance the visitor experience and create an even better day out. We will celebrate Anderton through installing new event spaces, adding more play areas and providing more opportunities for activities, skills and education programmes.

Project timetable

The first milestone for Engineering The Future was reached in December 2022, when the Trust was awarded a £574,000 grant from National Lottery Heritage Fund to support this development phase. In addition to central Canal & River Trust support, we're seeking further grant funding from local businesses, philanthropists, trusts and foundations which will be vital in enabling us to deliver the project.

Work is well underway with Lift engineering works and also in producing detailed designs for the Visitor Centre and grounds. During this process a wide range of boating, tourism and other stakeholders have been consulted to discuss and shape our plans.

The next step is to apply for Stage 2 funding, which will support project delivery. The timeline of our plans has altered slightly since the original bid, because in the three years since the original grant was awarded,  external factors such as inflation  - particularly in the construction sector - have placed pressure on the project. This means that the cost of essential works has increased, primarily to the refurbishment of the Lift itself. There have also been some necessary changes to the project scope, so while we revisit our application, there will be a delay from our original plans.

The Lift and Visitor Centre will be open for the 2025 summer season, which will include celebrations around the 150th anniversary of Anderton Boat Lift in July. We will also be open for the 2026 boating season, and hope that a successful grant application will allow work on the Lift and Visitor Centre to start in early 2027.

Thanks to National Lottery players