The
Anderton Boat Lift is a man made engineering wonder and is often referred to as
the 'Cathedral of the Canals'. Built in 1875 it was the first lift of its
kind in the world. Its designer Edwin Clarke went on to create similar
boat lifts on other European canal routes, but Anderton remains the benchmark
and the most famous. This giant iron spider structure is located on the
Trent and Mersey Canal close to its junction with the River Weaver. The
boat lift was an engineering solution to a dilemma. At this point the waterway
is 50 foot higher than the one the boats wanted to join. This man-made wonder
might have literally fallen into the river if it hadn't been for a £7 million
restoration which saw it back in business in 2002 after lying silent for nearly
two decades. | 
