Anderton boat lift

 

On Wednesday morning we pulled pins at 07.20 and headed up the Trent and Mersey canal towards The Anderton boat lift.

 

We passed this boat on the way, another funny boat name

 

We finally reached Anderton and this is the top of the Anderton boat lift. We booked in and then had a 2 hour wait before it was our turn to go down onto the river Weaver. As we were going on a river and it has a current we had to get the Anchor out of its storage place in the engine ole and attach the rope to the front of Inca just in case anything goes wrong when cruising on the river Weaver . The boat lift was built in 1875 and has two caissons each full of water and as one caisson comes up from the river the other one drops you down the 50 feet from the Trent and Mersey canal on to the river Weaver. The lift operated for over 100 years until 1983 when serious corrosion was found in the super structure and the lift closed. Eventually in 2000 £7 million pounds was raised to restore the lift and in 2002 it opened up again to traffic .

 

Entering the boat lift .

 

As you enter the lift the first gate closes behind you.

 

The view down towards the river Weaver.

 

This is the other caisson at the bottom of the lift.

 

Here we go.

 

Passing the the other caisson at the half way point. Carolyn looking a bit concerned but the whole operation took only half an hour and it was so smooth you didn’t realize you were moving.

 

Finally at the bottom and looking back to the top.

 

When we reach the bottom of the lift you can see the ram which helped to lift the opposite caisson up .

 

After we come out its now ready for the next boats to enter. It was a great experience and we both enjoyed it and can’t wait for the trip back up.The visitor centre is on the right and there is a trip boat that takes visitors on a trip up and down the lift which Is well worth doing.

 

There are a few big factories on the weaver and at one time most of their products were taken away by barge. But now unfortunately it all goes by road.

 

With higher speed limits on rivers everybody seems to be in a hurry.

 

And the boats are a lot bigger

 

We picked up this mooring just down from the boat lift and as with most rivers the banks are high , so it’s a bit of a scramble out of Inca to get ashore. We will spend our first night on the river Weaver here then pull pins in the morning and explore further along the river.

 

                                                                                                                       Happy Days