Areas, buildings and monuments
Lincoln Castle.
Credit: Colin McLean Photography
Safeguarding our historic buildings, monuments and archaeology for future generations.
Since 1994 we have awarded £3.3billion to more than 10,300 area, historic building and monument projects across the UK.
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
For more inspiration, see the stories below or browse projects we've funded.
How to get funding
Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.
News
Herne Bay Clock Tower brought back to life
The project, which is being led by the city council in partnership with the Friends of Herne Bay Clock Tower community group, will see major refurbishment of the building together with new educational activities. Modern LED lighting will be installed, along with four webcams on the top of the Clock
News
Cirencester commemorations
Cirencester’s three heritage cornerstones: New Brewery Arts, Corinium Museum and the Parish Church, working in conjunction with Cirencester Archaeological & Historical Society (CA&HS), will create exciting exhibitions, learning opportunities and events designed to bring local histories out of the
News
Bradford YMCA to investigate Tea and Remembrance
The project will focus on the positive impact the YMCA made during the war through the provision of tea huts, providing much needed refreshment and respite for the troops. The project will run for a year and will have a 'home base' at Culture Fusion, on Thornton Road in Bradford’s city centre.Young
News
Pull out all the stops
The iconic Royal Festival Hall organ at Southbank Centre will be heard for the first time in public for nearly a decade on 18 March 2014 following its complete restoration and reinstallation by the Durham-based organ builders Harrison & Harrison, the company that built and installed the instrument
News
Oakwood’s clock will 'chime' for another 100 years
The Oakwood Clock has been an iconic feature in Oakwood for just over 100 years – ever since it was moved from Leeds City Market. Originally it served as a tram shelter but since the demise of the trams has been a meeting place, provided shelter and somewhere to sit for generations of people
News
HLF award to boost local joinery skills
Twelve participants will receive bespoke, structured training and assessment with experienced heritage contractors leading to the achievement of the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) – Wood Occupations. The funding will also provide an opportunity for three local college
News
Willaston to remember its First World War fallen
Today, Willaston Village Festival Society has received £9,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a project, Lest We Forget – Willaston Remembers Its First World War Fallen. Awarded through HLF’s First World War: then and now programme, the project will focus on researching the background of
News
HLF awards £9,200 to Friends of St Augustine’s Penarth to mark First World War Centenary
Awarded through HLF’s First World War: then and now programme, the project will focus on the restoration and regilding of the Roll of Honour on the west wall of the church, together with recording and ordering the details of the lives and families of as many of the men on the roll as possible.To
News
Wicksteed Park Lake project update
An amazing 50,000 cubic meters of lake silt has been moved. Roughly half has been taken out to dry on two sites within the park, the remainder has been fashioned to create a number of large reed beds around the margins of the lake as well as the islands. These new reed beds will help restore the
News
Historic Wolverhampton street secures Lottery support
The project aims to provide grants to assist owners with essential repairs and improvements to their properties in Queen Street, possibly one of the most historic streets in the Wolverhampton City Centre Conservation Area. The award will help to support the city’s Interchange scheme, improving an
News
Investing £5million in UK’s natural heritage
These projects will bring together a variety of partners to protect and nurture some of our most precious and vulnerable habitats and species and are part of a wider package of £16m of HLF support, also announced today. Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said: “The Heritage Lottery Fund is one
News
£26.5million to restore UK’s cemeteries and parks
The Grade I registered Brompton Cemetery in West London, one of London’s Magnificent Seven, is to be restored following an award of more than £3.7million of Lottery funding. It is one of the first cemeteries to receive funding through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund’s Parks for