Boat transport news - Anderton boat lift gets back to work
An historic boat transport device, the Anderton, which is based on the River Weaver in Cheshire, went back into service on April 1 2011 following £7.5 million in restoration work.
The boat transport machinery, a type of boat lift, has been described as being like "some giant three-storey high iron spider" and is an important historical example of early boat transportation mechanisms. It was built in 1875 to provide a link between the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal.
The boat lift's manager said that it will "attract visitors from all walks of life, from poets and artists seeking to capture its magic in words and pictures through children eager to learn about its history to families wishing to spend some quality leisure time in a unique setting."
Sadly, very few of these historic boat transport devices survive in the UK. Amazingly, there are no remaining working examples on the south coast, despite the rich nautical heritage existing in places such as Southampton, Portsmouth and Brighton and them today being home to many of the UK's boat haulage businesses.
