Looking after historic buildings, monuments and archaeology ensures that we can safeguard the places people love for future generations.
These projects can help to sustain jobs, support economic growth and protect heritage at risk. They can also bolster local pride, nurture traditional craft skills and help communities enjoy and make use of the places they care about.
What do we support?
Projects we fund include:
- Conservation and repairs to historic buildings and places
- Finding appropriate new uses for historic buildings
- Community archaeology projects
- Investment in places of worship: find out more here
Project ideas
Our funding could help people:
- repair and transform a historic building at the heart of their community
- help volunteers learn building conservation skills
- rescue a building on a Buildings at Risk register
- undertake a community archaeology project
- regenerate a historic town centre or high street
- look after and learn about a local war memorial
How to get funding
Discussion
Business Planner: Opportunity
Little Cassiobury is a late 17th century house in the centre of Watford and is a grade II* listed building, categorised as at risk by Historic England. The Friends of Little Cassiobury aim is to preserve this important part of Watford’s built heritage for the enjoyment and education of future
Blog
Bringing privately owned historic houses to a wider audience
Privately owned historic houses have huge potential to tell fascinating stories. Head of Historic Environment Sara Crofts answers the key questions on how to open them up.
Blog
Why Brutalist heritage gets my vote
As the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room reopen after extensive refurbishment, MP Ed Vaizey explains why he's a fan of the Brutalist architecture they epitomise
Blog
How we held a Royal visit
Programme Manager at Lincoln Castle Revealed, Mary Powell, talks about logistics for the Royal opening of this HLF-supported project.
News article
A new future for Cromford Mills
In 1777, Richard Arkwright constructed the first water-powered cotton spinning mill in Cromford - changing manufacturing forever.
Blog
Enterprising solutions for heritage at risk
Sara Crofts examines how HLF-support is helping derelict buildings find a sustainable future.
Blog
How volunteers raised St Fagans’ Iron Age farmstead from the ground up
Ffion Davies, Volunteer Coordinator at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, celebrates the hard work of volunteers who brought St Fagans’ latest historic building to life.
Blog
Exploring the lasting legacy of the walled city
Two Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) grants have helped regenerate the historic built heritage of Derry~Londonderry. City Centre Manager, Jim Roddy, explores its lasting legacy for the walled city.
News article
Kew’s Temperate House opens after £15million redevelopment
Kew Gardens’ spectacular 19th-century glasshouse will once again be home to some of the world’s rarest plants.
News article
Historic hall built by forgotten Georgian businesswoman to be saved
Story of Ann Morley to be uncovered and Grade II* listed People’s Hall transformed, thanks to £1.5million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Project