Made possible by National Lottery players, the funding will benefit natural, industrial, archival and architectural heritage across the county.

World’s oldest working steam engines

Crofton Beam Engines are the world’s oldest working steam engines still performing the job they were built to do. Kennet and Avon Canal Trust has been awarded £559,300 for essential conservation work on the Grade I listed engines and the buildings in which they are housed. Access and interpretation will be transformed, putting visitors at the heart of the Crofton story.

Land for rare wildlife

Important for many species of butterflies and birds, over 80% of the UK’s chalk grassland habitats have been destroyed over the past seven decades. Now, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust will use an £814,100 National Lottery grant to double the size of the Coombe Bissett Down nature reserve and restore it to chalk grassland with the help of 150 volunteers.

Gateway to an industrial past

Trowbridge has a rich and rare townscape built upon the manufacturing of West of England woollen cloth. Home Mill was the town’s last working woollen cloth mill and is now part of Trowbridge Museum. A £1,172,500 National Lottery grant will conserve the historic building, expand gallery space and create new facilities and opportunities for visitors to discover the town’s heritage.

[quote= Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West] “Money raised by National Lottery players is making a remarkable difference to Wiltshire’s heritage” [/quote]

Village’s only public building

National Lottery funding of £67,600 will enable urgent repairs to be carried out for Grade II Listed St Andrews Church – the only public building in St Andrew’s Donhead. The church will become a hub for the community with organ recitals, flower shows and a variety of opportunities to celebrate its heritage.

Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West, said: “Money raised by National Lottery players is making a remarkable difference to Wiltshire’s heritage – from protecting our landscapes and wildlife to sharing untold stories and celebrating the industries which shaped our county.”

National Lottery funding of Wiltshire’s heritage

Since 1994, HLF has invested more than £60million of money raised by National Lottery players into protecting and sharing Wiltshire’s heritage.