The Anderton Boat Lift, in Cheshire, was the first effective attempt to create a lift which raised and lowered boats mechanically between different water levels. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument which is of international significance as an example of both an early 1875 hydraulic lifting system and a later 1908 mechanical one which replaced it. 

It was deteriorating and on the Heritage at Risk Register. British Waterways, the owners, have brought the boat lift back into use by creating a modern version of the hydraulic system, whilst conserving the 1908 mechanical structure in situ. Extensive landscaping encourages public access and a new-build operations centre allows control of the lift and also manages visitors, interpreting the story and giving a view of, and the experience of travelling in, the working lift.

The aims of the project were:

• to restore the working lift based on a modern interpretation of the 1875 hydraulic system and to restore the 1908 mechanism as a static exhibit in situ
• to landscape the surrounding area to enable public access for all
• to build an operations centre for controlling the lift and to combine this with a visitor centre which interprets the lift and enables it to be seen in operation