Areas, buildings and monuments

Areas, buildings and monuments

exterior view of a large norman castle in the middle of a city
We've supported Norwich Castle's transformation with £13million in funding.
Safeguarding our historic buildings, monuments and archaeology for future generations.

Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1994 we have awarded £3.4billion to more than 10,600 area, historic building and monument projects across the UK. See stories from projects we've funded below.

We provide grants for heritage projects from £10,000–£10million to ensure that heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.

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:

  • investment in places of worship
  • conservation and repairs to historic buildings and places
  • finding appropriate new uses for historic buildings
  • community archaeology projects

Places of worship

Places of worship are among the UK’s oldest and most cherished historic buildings. We want to help congregations become truly resilient and their buildings genuinely sustainable.

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

Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.

Community and volunteers at photography exhition
Community and volunteers at photography exhibition. Photo: Charmian S Berry

Projects

The preservation of the Melton Old Church collection of WW1 grave markers

This project focused on conserving Melton Old Church’s nationally important collection of 10 First World War grave markers while helping people connect with the heritage of the village during the conflict.

A group of people with gloves and buckets standing in front of a church wall
A group of people with gloves and buckets standing in front of a church wall Andrew Mottram Worcester Diocese

Projects

Teaching traditional building repair skills to church volunteers

Volunteers developed skills to help them maintain their historic places of worship into the future without relying on professional contractors.

Project participants at Kingussie Parish Church
Project participants at Kingussie Parish Church

Projects

Restoration of historical pipe organ

Kingussie Parish Church have restored their historic pipe organ, bringing it back to its original operational condition.

Children listening to a talk about the archaeological site
Children listening to a talk about the archaeological site

Projects

Excavating a newly discovered Bronze Age burial mound

Following the unexpected discovery of a Late Bronze Age tanged chisel and knife blade, a rapid archaeological assessment identified the site as an extremely rare, intact Bronze Age burial mound at Bolton-le-Sands.

Workshop where children are doing rubbings on grave stones
Workshop where children are doing rubbings on grave stones

Projects

Restoring the tower and organ of St Mary's Church

The restoration of St. Mary's Church, a listed building in the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team.