The Anderton Boat Lift is a man made engineering wonder and is often referred to as the 'Cathedral of the Canals'. Built in 1875 it was the first lift of its kind in the world. Its designer Edwin Clarke went on to create similar boat lifts on other European canal routes, but Anderton remains the benchmark and the most famous. This giant iron spider structure is located on the Trent and Mersey Canal close to its junction with the River Weaver. The boat lift was an engineering solution to a dilemma. At this point the waterway is 50 foot higher than the one the boats wanted to join. This man-made wonder might have literally fallen into the river if it hadn't been for a £7 million restoration which saw it back in business in 2002 after lying silent for nearly two decades. | 
