The Anderton Lift.

As we didn't need to be at the marina until late afternoon on Thursday we continued up the Trent & Mersey Canal.  We were hoping to reach the Anderton Boat lift as KKK & G hadn't seen this wonder of the canals.

The T & M canal is 50 ft (15.25m) above the River Weaver.  Prior to ist construction in 1875 cargo had to be slid down chutes to waiting boats or hauled up to the canal.

Designed by Edward Leader Williams it operated until 1983 when it closed owing to corrosion.   For the first 30 years or so it operated by a water hydraulic system, raising and lowering two loaded narrowboats in each of the 2 caissons.  The water hydraulics proved to be a problem so it was changed over to an electric winding system of cables.  In the early part of this century the lift was brought back into operation using hydraulics but this time with oil.

It is one of only 2 working boat lifts in the UK the other being the recently built Falkirk Wheel.