Plans announced for July Victorian Fair to mark the occasion
A leading charity is announcing its plans to mark the 150th anniversary of the world’s first major commercial boat lift, the Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire. The lift itself is classed as a Scheduled Monument.
The Canal and River Trust says it’ll be transporting visitors back in time to 1875 by hosting a spectacular Victorian Fair over the anniversary weekend of July 25-27.
The charity recently held an Open Day for the chance for people to take a ‘behind the scenes’ look at Leeds River Lock.
The Anderton Boat Lift’s Grand re-opening ceremony (March 2002). Image provided by the Canal and River Trust. Image: Mike Poloway (provided by The Canal and River Trust).
During the rest of the summer season, as well as boat trips through the Lift, visitors will be able to enjoy a host of planned events.
These have been announced as: Steam at the Lift (May 10/11), Pirates Weekend (June 21/22), Old Time Sailors Concert (July 4) and Steampunk Lift Off Weekender (September 27/28).
Designated one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways, the Anderton Boat Lift was designed by engineer Edwin Clark to connect the Trent and Mersey Canal with a river which is 50 feet below it. It opened on 26 July 1875.
‘Anderton Boat Lift is a unique, iconic structure and it’s amazing now to be marking its 150th anniversary as a working boat lift,’ says Richard Parry, Chief Executive of the Canal and River Trust.
‘For more than 20 years it has been run as a popular visitor attraction, as well as being used by 3,000 boaters passing between the river and canal each year.’
‘It’s so important that we secure the funding for its renovation and refurbishment so that its place in history is retained, and to keep this unique, much-loved heritage structure operational for future generations.’
The 2023 Good Friday Edwin Clark boat trip at the Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire. Image: Lynn Pegler / The Canal and River Trust.
Successfully carrying boats for 150 years
It’s been re-engineered several times and the lift has successfully carried boats between the two waterways for most of its 150 years. It was out of action for a couple of decades in the 1980s and 1990s.
At the turn of the Millennium, more than £7 million was raised to fund a major restoration and the boat lift began operating again on 26 March 2002.
Visitors have since been attracted to the site to marvel at the incredible engineering masterpiece and enjoy a trip aboard the Edwin Clark boat, named after the lift’s designer.
The Trust is currently working to develop an ambitious ‘Engineering the Future’ project to revitalise Anderton Boat Lift and Visitor Centre, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It says the Lift needs a major upgrade to keep it operational.
The charity explains that the whole structure requires blast cleaning, repairing and re-painting, the timber control cabin replacing and IT operating system updating.
The project also includes plans to upgrade the visitor centre with a new flexible event space to replace the current marquee, plus the development of a new learning, skills and outreach programme.
Refurbishment work is targeted to start next autumn and expected to take 12 – 18 months, with a total estimated cost of £13.5 – £15 million.
‘The boat lift is part of our incredible industrial heritage.’ Image: Lynn Pegler / The Canal and River Trust.
‘Upgrade programme is on the horizon for the autumn’
‘We would love to see as many people as possible join us to celebrate this special anniversary year, particularly as the upgrade programme is on the horizon for the autumn,’ says Ani Sutton, Canal & River Trust destinations and attractions manager.
‘The boat lift is part of our incredible industrial heritage and it’s still such a thrill to watch it transporting boats between the two waterways after 150 years.’
During the 2025 main summer season, the Anderton Boat Lift and visitor centre will be open six days a week (closed Thursdays), 9.30am – 4.30pm, offering four boat trips a day.
There is a charge for boat trips but entrance to the visitor exhibition, shop and café are free.