Boat lift steam festival celebrates vintage vessels

12 May 2024

Image source, Lynn Pegler, Canal & River Trust
Image caption,
Several vintage vessels and machines have gathered at the landmark Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire for a steam festival
Image source, Lynn Pegler, Canal & River Trust
Image caption,
A flotilla of steamboats sailed along the River Weaver to the three-tier Victorian structure in Northwich
Image source, Lynn Pegler, Canal & River Trust
Image caption,
Hailed as the “Cathedral of the Canals”, Anderton Boat Lift was designed to transfer boats between the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal
Image source, Lynn Pegler, Canal & River Trust
Image caption,
Built by engineer Edwin Clark in 1875, it was the world’s first major commercial boat lift
Image source, Lynn Pegler, Canal & River Trust
Image caption,
Boat owners travelled several miles to join the festival at what is seen as one of the seven "Wonders of the Waterways"

Vintage vessels have been on show at the landmark Anderton Boat Lift.

A flotilla of steamboats sailed along the River Weaver to the Victorian structure in Northwich, Cheshire for the Canal and River Trust's (CRT) Steam at the Lift festival.

Built in 1875, the Anderton Boat Lift is one of only two working boat lifts in the UK and was the world’s first major commercial boat lift.

The three-tier structure is often described as the “Cathedral of the Canals”.

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