Together, the projects are driving heritage-led regeneration across Derry/Londonderry by restoring historic buildings, expanding archives and creating new tourist destinations.

We've recently awarded these projects £2.2million, with the potential for two to receive an additional £8m in funding.

Sustainable futures for landmark buildings

Austins Regeneration

We’ve awarded Inner City Trust £459,000 in development funding to build on its acquisition of the former Austins department store and embark on plans to restore the iconic five storey building. It will then apply for a potential delivery grant of £4.47m towards realising the plans to rescue, reimagine and re-open the Grade A heritage building.

First opened in 1830, Austins was reported to be the oldest family-owned department store in the world. The existing building, which holds many treasured memories for people across the region, opened in 1907 and closed in 2016.

St Columb’s Hall

Vital steps are being taken to secure the future of the historic Grade A listed St Columb’s Hall. The People’s Hall project will use £243,202 in development funding to appoint a team of experts to undertake urgent capital works, build plans to improve accessibility and create a financial resilience plan for its long-term sustainability. St Columb’s Hall Trust will then apply for a potential delivery grant of £3.7m to ensure the building is welcoming, accessible and no longer at risk.

Dynamic collections and hidden histories

Conflict Archive on the Internet  

Since the late 1990s, the University of Ulster has been working on the Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN) which includes a range of materials which give a deeper understanding of the conflict and the peace process. Home in Troubled Times – which we awarded £253,961 – will gather histories of housing and migration during and after the conflict, focusing less on politics and more on everyday life.

North West Civil Rights Archive

The Bloody Sunday Trust / Museum of Free Derry, Guildhall Press and Archive Ireland have been awarded £421,000 to unify their three rights-based archives to include new oral and video histories, publications and films on diverse issues such as language, women’s, workers’, immigrant, LGBTQ+ and disability rights.

Our Hidden Healers

With a grant of £177,448, St Columb’s Park Reconciliation Trust is embarking on a new medical heritage project at St Columb’s Park House. It will explore themes of healing and health dating back to the on-site holy wells, the use of the 18th-century manor house and grounds during the Second World War and its time as a TB hospital. 

New and unique tourism destinations

St Augustine’s Church of Ireland

Our £246,344 grant is helping transform a B2 listed Sexton’s Cottage built around 1834 within the grounds of St Augustine’s Church of Ireland  into a three bedroom tourist accommodation. Located within the City Walls, it is recognised as the former site of St Columba’s original monastery founded in 546AD. Money raised from the holiday let will go towards maintaining and sustaining the historic site.

DNA Museum

After years of planning, Derry City and Strabane District Council can now proceed with the DNA Museum project thanks to a £400,000 grant increase to cover additional costs and inflation. The £15m interactive museum and archive centre is now under construction, supported by £3.5m Heritage Fund investment towards the build and fit-out.

Heritage helps places thrive

Back in 2019 we celebrated 25 years of investment in Derry/Londonderry. The latest grants show how heritage is continuing to drive growth in the city.

Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said “This is a place that’s committed to heritage-led regeneration and we’re continuing our 30-year commitment to invest millions into a range of projects across the City. Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re helping to revitalise landmark buildings, safeguard and capture people’s lived experiences and bring forward new tourism offers."

Discover projects we've funded elsewhere in Northern Ireland.