Anderton Centre
Polly Checkland Harding
Located between Preston and Manchester, this adventure activity centre occupies four acres of woodland and benefits from exclusive use of the scenic Lower Rivington Reservoir. This body of water is the largest between the Midlands and the Lake District, and provides an ideal spot for school groups, organisations and the public to try stand up paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking and sailing. The Anderton Centre provides hire without tuition at an affordable price, and prioritises working with young people and community groups.
The centre was built on the site of Anderton Hall, a 19th century stately home for the prestigious Anderton family that was demolished in 1930. Now independently run, there are places to learn archery, tree climbing and abseiling, fire building, problem solving and more on site; The Anderton Centre also organises themed birthday party packages, including a woodland or treetop adventure, raft challenge, canoeing experience and stand up paddle boarding with races and games built in.
Officially opened by the chairman of United Utilities Sir Christopher Harding in July 1999, the centre is also home to a dedicated paddle boarding club, and offers adult courses in mountain leadership, first aid and power boating, among others. Later in the year that the Anderton Centre first opened, Lower Rivington Reservoir was notably low, leading to the discovery of a stone with strange cup and ring markings, which is believed to date back to around 2,000-3,000 BC. It’s now placed at the entrance to the site, a reminder of the long history of human activity on the land.
