Our Built Heritage

Restoring and preserving the built heritage of Britain's canals is an increasingly important part of the regeneration programmes in which we are involved. The Anderton Boat Lift is a prime example of the outstanding quality that can be achieved in restoration work involving world-class engineering.

When the Lift opened in 1875 its radical design by Edward Leader Williams and Edwin Clarke led it to become a model for boat lifts all over the world. Originally using hydraulic rams, the Lift was converted to run on electric power in 1908, using pulleys, cables and giant gear wheels. These gear wheels became a famous landmark through much of the 20th century and have been reinstalled in the restoration, which uses latest hydraulic technology sensitively married with the simplicity of the original 19th century design. The restored Anderton Boat Lift opened in early 2002.