The Anderton Boat Lift


The Anderton Boat Lift is one of the original 7 wonders of the inland waterways world. It is a master piece of engineering, the cathedral of the canals. The lift was built to improve the link between the Trent and Mersey Canal and the River Weaver. Chutes were also used to send cargoes down from the upper to lower level. The lift meant boats could go from canal to river without being unloaded.
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The Anderton Boat Lift	The view from above	Looking up at the former lifting mechanism	Unused cogs at the top of the lift

A boat heads towards the exit gate	The exit gate opens upwards	The boat exits the lift	Entering the lift

The gate closes behind	View from the top	Looking back to the entrace	The control room

Looking towards the caisson	The caisson gate closes	View from the Lift	The descent

Passing Caissons	The other caisson on the up	The caisson is pushed up	Looking up inside the lift

At the bottom	The gates open	The lift from the river	Entering the lift at river level

Shiny	Looking back to the river	Looking up at the other caisson	Waiting to exit

Leaving the lift	A cog	The old counter balances