The Canal & River Trust has started preparatory investigatory work that will help inform the ambitious programme to refurbish Anderton Boat Life, one of the seven wonders of Britain’s canal network.
With the charity hoping to undertake the refurbishment of what was the world’s first commercial boat lift in autumn 2025, it has appointed specialist engineering firm JN Bentley to assist with the preparatory investigations.
Dating back to 1875, and last fully refurbished and reopened at the turn of the millennium, Anderton Boat Lift now needs a major upgrade to keep it operational. The whole structure requires blast cleaning, repairing and re-painting, the timber control cabin replacing and IT operating system updating.
This first phase of work includes investigations and surveys around the lift grounds, inspections of the lift, confirming design elements and high priority repairs. These will all inform the main improvement and refurbishment phase which the Trust hopes to begin in autumn 2025, after the lift’s 150″ anniversary celebrations in July 2025.
Also included in the project are plans to upgrade the visitor centre to include a new flexible event space which will replace the large marquee, plus the development of a new learning, skills and outreach programme. This will enable more visitors to enjoy the unique attraction and delve deeper into the site’s fascinating history.
The Trust has developed an ambitious, externally funded programme — the Engineering The Future project — to revitalize Anderton Boat Lift and Visitor Centre, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. In December 2022 the Trust was awarded a £574,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the development phase of this major project. An application for Stage 2 funding will be submitted in the spring of 2025.
Jason Leach, head of external programme delivery at Canal & River Trust, emphasized the importance of the project, stating: “Anderton Boat Lift is an iconic symbol of our industrial heritage and it’s amazing that it is still in use today, providing a vital link for boaters between the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal. With such a rich history, it has an important role to play in telling the story of our canals to visitors.
“We are committed to preserving Anderton Boat Lift for navigation and to inspire future generations. The investigatory work that will be carried out by JN Bentley is the first step in upgrading the boat lift and its surrounding environments. This will not only make it more resilient and keep it available to boaters, but the transformation of the grounds and visitor centre will mean more people of all ages can see, hear, and experience this special place and learn about why it’s so vital to keep the boat lift – and our canal network—alive.”
Andrew Holt, Operations Manager from JN Bentley said “We are pleased to be working with Canal & River Trust to deliver this important engineering project on the historic Anderton Boat Lift.
“We’ll bring our fifty-plus years of experience to the project to deliver the improvements the structure deserves. We recognise the importance of the boat lift to boaters, the local community, and the heritage of our waterways as a whole, and look forward to collaborating with Canal & River Trust to deliver the project over the coming months.”
The refurbishment, targeted to get underway next autumn, is expected to last 12-18 months, with a total estimated cost of £13.5 – £15 million. The Trust is actively seeking further grant funding and support from trusts and foundations, corporates and philanthropists, as well as appropriate statutory and government grants, to further support the project.
