BW News Release, 10 April 2002, ANDERTON BOAT LIFT UPDATE

Anderton Boat Lift has been restored to its original 1875 hydraulic status with both caissons operational. This nearly 130-year old structure is a magnificent feat of engineering. However, in full operating mode, with regular boat movements through the Lift, British Waterways is discovering some difficulties with elements of the historic workings.

The most significant issue is the way that the wedges were originally designed to separate the River Weaver sluice gates from the caisson gates. They are not effective enough to prevent significant water loss over an extended period and the pumps are being overwhelmed. Visitors to the site may have seen the excess water flowing from the top of a manhole adjacent to the Lift as a result of this.

The original 1875 Lift design featured a flooded well into which the caisson tanks fitted into at River Weaver level. Modifications to the Lift in the early 20th Century included the removal of this feature and the caissons subsequently operated in dry wells until Anderton was closed in 1983.

British Waterways and its partners have preserved the original wrought iron caissons which for 75 years, had operated in a dry environment at the base of the Lift. The significant water loss now being experienced as a result of the original wedge design has meant that the well has been flooding. Consequently undue stresses are being placed on the caissons and the structure itself by operating the caissons into a flooded well. Furthermore, the state-of-the-art rams and their associated safety systems are not designed to operate in a permanently submerged environment.

As a Scheduled Ancient Monument, any changes to the wedges to allow them to operate more effectively must first be approved by English Heritage.

Now that Easter is over, British Waterways is carrying out the necessary improvements before boat traffic and visitors build up for the Summer season. Bookings are being taken now for passages through the Lift will from 1 May.

Derek Cochrane, regional director for British Waterways north west, says: “Our engineers have the experience and skills to effect improvements but we anticipate that the historic hanging wedges will always be a challenge to operate. Nobody has operated a hydraulic boat lift in the UK for a century and it is a learning process for our operators. However, once lots of boats have been moved through, we are confident that we will be able to minimise any effects of the wedge operation.

“Such little idiosyncrasies of Anderton are, however, a price worth paying for having been able to retain so much of the original Lift structure.

“We are delighted that we have a true restoration not a modern replication.”

British Waterways will be issuing information regularly on progress with these adjustments.

Bookings are being taken now for the passage of private vessels through the lift from 1 May 2002. These can be made by calling the Anderton Visitor Centre on 01606 786777. More information about the lift can be found at www.andertonboatlift.co.uk.

Photos of the Official reopening and the Public reopening and boats on the Weaver.