Anderton Boat Lift
nr Northwich, Cheshire
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Featured Location Guide |
By the end of the
17th century a major salt mining industry had developed around the towns of
Northwich, Middlewich, Nantwich and Winsford. By the end of the 1700's there
were two navigable routes to transport the salt via the River Weaver and the
Trent & Mersey Canal, rather than competing with each the other the two
owners decided to work together and in 1793 a basin was excavated at
Anderton on the Weaver, which took the river to the foot of the escarpment
of the canal 50ft above. Facilities were built to transport the goods
between the two waterways including two cranes, salt chutes and an inclined
plan and by 1801 a second quay was built and in 1831 a second entrance into
the Basin. By 1870 the Anderton Basin was a major interchange for the
shipping of goods in both directions with warehousing, 3 separate
double incline planes and four salt chutes. However movement of goods by
this means was slow and they needed a more efficient way of getting the
vessels from one waterway to the other, canal locks were initially
considered and discarded as too much water would be lost form the canal, so
the idea of a boat lift was muted and chief engineer Edward Leader Williams
was asked to draw up plans. Various options were considered but they finally
settled on a design involving a pair of water-filled caissons (tanks).
The Anderton Boat Lift was built
in 1875, by the Victorians
and was the worlds first hydraulic working lift with each tank supported by
a giant ram. Generally two rams are connected hydraulically with one tank
balancing the other, whilst one is at the top the other is below at river
level. Large pumps below the aqueduct pump the hydraulic oil from one
cylinder to the other giving the raising and lowering power. It was built to
provide a 50 feet vertical link between to navigable waterways, the
River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal. The tanks which carry
the boats up and down, each weight 252 tonnes when full of water and 80
tonnes when empty. At rest one is level with the canal the other with the
river, to move the tanks a small amount of water is removed from the river
level tank and the heavier one above then descends and forces the hydraulic
fluid into a cylinder to the lighter tank pushing it upwards. |
Taken from beside the River Weaver
From on the side of the Trent & Mersey Canal
Click
on the images to see a larger version |
The boat lift was in
use for over 100 years until it was closed in 1983 through corrosion,
however in 2001 restoration took place for it to re-open in 2002 as a
working boat lift carrying pleasure canal boats from the River below up to
the canal above. It is operated by British Waterways and is one of only two
working boat lifts in the UK, the other being the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland.
So what can you do
on a visit today.
There is a two
storey Operations/Exhibition Centre. The first floor
of the Operations Centre has a cafe area, a
welcome desk which also serves as the retail area and provides tickets for the
trip boat through the lift, exhibition area and toilet facilities. The lower level has an
exhibition, focusing upon the lift’s history and the people who worked on
and around it. The exhibition is colour coded to specific themes, with
interactive content and an entertaining cinematic centrepiece. The
computerised lift control centre is located within the exhibition, enabling
visitors to get up close and personal with the lift on its busy daily
schedule.
Time travel through the
unique structure of the boat lift on board the elegant Edwin Clark trip
glasstop boat, journeying between the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal high
above. A 30 minute ride takes you on journey, in a 56 seat cruiser,
through the towering structure that used to transport the salt bearing
barges over a century ago. Whilst on the trip the boat master will recount
it's history and role in transporting goods through it. Or
an hour long combined journey will take you through the lift and further along the
River Weaver
navigation to the Town Swing Bridge in Northwich, a town built on the mining
and export of salt.
You could also take time out on the viewing platform and
watch as others ride the lift, also a good spot for those photographs.
Browse the gift shop with its heritage and historic
content. On fine weather days you take advantage of the picnic areas,
located in the shadow of this mighty structure. There is also a
children's play area and a maze which has been constructed from the old
counterweights that used to hang from the lift.
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You could also enjoy a walk in the nearby Anderton Nature Park, on the
opposite side of the car park which takes you down on the side of the River
Weaver where you can take pictures of the structure from a distance albeit a
marquee was in the way when we visited which restricted our view of the lower
level. |
Alternatively you could take a walk along the
tow path of the Trent & Mersey Canal, where you get to see wildlife, colourful
canal boats and nature at it's best. We visited quite late in the day, there
were some boats on the move and very few people on the towpath, so were able to
get uninterrupted views of the canal. |
Click on the small images to see larger versions
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Planning Grid
Location: |
Anderton Boat Lift,
Anderton, Northwich, Cheshire |
Grid Reference: |
SJ647753 |
Getting there: |
Located 3 miles from
Northwich. From M6 J19 follow signs for Northwich. Once in Northwich, out on
the A533 towards Runcorn, follow the brown tourist signs to the Anderton
Boat Lift. |
Access: |
From car park along the canal to the entrance
of the first floor of the exhibition building. Through this building into
site for maze, boat trips etc. |
Parking: |
Car Park on site with
pay and display charges from 10am-8pm daily. Typical charges are £2 for up
to 3 hours or £3 for all day. Free for blue badge holders. |
Facilities: |
cafe, toilets, small gift shop, exhibition
hall, picnic areas |
Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
Boat lift, River Weaver, boats on the Trent &
Mersey Canal |
What to take: |
long lens, macro lens for nature reserve
wildflowers and insects |
Nature highlights: |
Heron on River Weaver, wildflowers,
butterflies and insects in the Anderton Nature Reserve. Wildfowl on river
and canal. |
Address: |
Anderton
Boat Lift
Lift Lane
Anderton
Northwich
Cheshire |
Postcode: |
CW9 6FW |
Telephone: |
01606 786777 |
Opening times: |
8th Mar-5th Oct Daily
10am-5pm Bank holiday weekends open to 6pm
8th Oct-2nd Nov Thu-Sun 11am-4pm
6th-30th Nov Thu-Sun 11am-6pm |
Charges: |
Exhibition & Grounds only: Adult
£2; Child £1; Concession £2; Family (2+2) £4.50
Lift Trip Only: Adult £7; Child £5; Concession £6;
Family (2+2) £19
River Trip Only: Adult £4; Child £3; Concession £3.50;
Family (2+2) £11
Lift+River Trip: Adult £11; Child £8; Concession £9.50;
Family (2+2) £30
Under 5's: Free for all attractions.
Cafe and Gift shop no entry fee. |
Photo Restrictions: |
None |
Other Restrictions: |
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Special Needs Access: |
Accessible for wheelchair users. The Edwin
Clark boat trip has a hydraulic wheelchair lift and can take up to 2
wheelchair passengers per trip. |
Special Needs Facilities: |
Disable toilet |
Children Facilities: |
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Dogs Allowed: |
Guide Dogs only |
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