Anderton Boat Lift from bottom basin

Anderton Boat Lift on my doorstep (less than 2 miles) as with all things local you tend to look past them most days but while I'm laid up seemed an ideal time to go and have a coffee and large slice of cake and see how it looks nowadays and I must say it looks better than I ever remember it and not surprising it took £7 milion to take it apart and rebuild it back to a hydraulic operation. Not sure if I'd bother taking the boat trip as it does just go up and down the lift while they sit in the cassion and talk through the history and operation far better to watch it operate from the bottom.

The 72 foot lift moves barges from Trent & Mersey Canal to River Weaver @ 50 foot lift. Has two sealed tank for the boats weighing @ 250 te when full of water, the pulleys wheels on the top are just for show now they were used when the lift was powered by electric motors and counter weights that now form a small maze in the grounds.

The Coffee chop and grounds are now free to access but if your after a coffe and walk round check lift boat tour times on line as any coach tours normally turn up 30-45 minutes early to catch a brew before the boat trip and the cafe gets very busy at these times. There is a nice little pub on the other side of the Trent & Mersey canal "Stanley Arms" also known locally as "The Tip" as chutes were used to transfer salt from the barges to river craft below before Anderton Lift was built.