The Anderton Lift is located 10 miles north of Middlewich on the Trent & Mersey Canal and also about 12 miles from the Mersey estuary along the Weaver Navigation.
The Weaver Navigation Trustees were somewhat concerned about the opening of the northern section of the Trent & Mersey Canal in May of 1777; they feared it would have an adverse impact on their trade. however, they soon realized that the exact opposite was the case. In 1793 a series of chutes were constructed on the Trent & Mersey at Anderton; these were located 50 feet above a dock on the River Weaver and used to transfer salt from the canal boats to the "Weaver Flats" (barges) below. These transshipment chutes remained in use until 1940.
However, by 1871 it was evident that a more efficient method of transferring cargo was needed and a great iron boat lift was proposed. The original, designed by Edward Lander Williams, was completed in 1875 and consisted of two water-filled iron tanks that ascended and descended inside a large cage of iron tubes and struts. The counterbalanced tanks, with boats inside, were raised and lowered with the aid of steam-powered hydraulic rams.
Unfortunately, the salty river water used for the lift caused a number of operational problems and, in 1908 major repairs were undertaken. The hydraulics were replaced with an new electrical system that operated each tank independently and the old Victorian structure was modified to be more efficient; however, the two original tanks were retained.
The lift remained in operation for 75 years but corrosion to the main structure forced its closure in 1983 and, in order to reduce stress on the framework, the winding gear was dismantled in 1987.
Following the closure there was a great deal of activity regarding the lift's preservation and restoration. In 1986 the Trent & Mersey Canal Society formed the Anderton Boat Lift Development Group to promote the restoration and over a seven year period a number of proposals and funding sources were investigated. In 1991 British Waterways also carried out extensive testing of the structure. In October of 1993 the Anderton Boat Lift Trust was formed with the charter to oversee the actual restoration work and subsequent operation of the lift. At that time it was agreed that the 1908 design philosophy and general appearance would be maintained.
Detailed inspection work started in April of 1995 and hopefully the lift will be back in operation in the near future. There was some talk of the opening being in the summer of 1997 but this was subject to financial commitments being made.
In his 1993 letter sent to the Anderton Boat Lift News, David Stevenson, Chairman, Inland Waterways Association stated:-