If you get the chance, and you like family day outs with a bit of industrial revolution history, we highly recommend a visit to the Anderton Boat Lift. Maintained and operated by the Canal and River Trust.
Family picnic watching the lift carry boats up and down, I was in awe of the engineering and history. You don't have to travel far in the UK to get up close and personal with our industrial heritage, and to be reminded about the importance of geology, ground engineering, geotechnics and civil engineering play in the built environment around us. And it all converges here.
Built in 1857, Edwin Clark's 'Cathedral of the Canals' was the first boat lift in the world, it's caissons lifting boats from the River Weaver Navigation to the Trent and Mersey Canal, and remains the only one in England. The 24m high structure (14m lift) provided a vital link for boats carrying salt, clay, coal, flint stone and coal across the industrial north, and even played a role in helping the Potteries transport fine china from Stoke-on-Trent to the ports, and out to the world.
Looking at the boat lift itself is awe-inspiring, but I can only imagine the ground conditions challenges and the scale of foundation engineering required.
The kids were very impressed with the play area too!
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