This has helped to keep the lift open, while we raise crucial funding for major renovations which are planned to begin in the autumn, subject to a positive outcome to our National Lottery Heritage Fund application. Our appointed contractors for the major renovations, JN Bentley are already on site, examining the structure and delivering the annual winter maintenance the Lift needs before every boating season.
One of the final investigations needed was to inspect the aqueduct leading from the canal to the caissons which carry boats down the Lift. Over 10 hours, water was drained down through a pipe into the River Weaver before engineers could get in to look below the water line. These inspections aren’t just vital to inform the design of the works but also to obtain the necessary consent to renovate this Scheduled Ancient Monument from Historic England.
This February our bid to The National Lottery Heritage Fund is due for submission. If awarded, this grant will cover over half of the costs of the Lift refurbishment and Visitor Centre redevelopment, with our charity seeking to cover the remainder of the cost through legacy fundraising and philanthropy, also from our supporters and reserves.
The bid will explain how our ‘Engineering the Future’ project will help refurbish the lift, improve its reliability, update control systems, and make it easier to maintain. It will also outline how we intend to transform facilities, enhance visitor attractions, and give the site a sustainable future.
Our aim is to preserve the site's heritage, protect and improve the environment around it, and make our attraction even more accessible and inclusive to all visitors.
We’re busy discussing how we can improve the exhibition space in the visitor centre to help bring the story of the lift to life. Visitors will be able to discover the history and significance of Anderton, why the lift was built, and how it works. They will also be encouraged to explore what a unique site like this can tell us about our heritage and why it is so important to continue to protect it.
Plans are also in development to improve the event space just below the Lift and create an interactive play area beside it. We have been consulting with our visitors and local communities to discover what kind of events and activities would encourage them to visit the site more often.
It’s all set to be an exciting year at Anderton Boat Lift, with celebrations planned for the 150th Anniversary at the end of July. If the funding application is successful, plans should soon fall into place, and the major renovations to the lift could begin at the end of this boating season. These works are likely to close the lift for the following 12-18 months, but with your help, will ultimately keep Anderton Boat Lift alive for decades to come.
