Celebrating the innovative buildings, transport and technology that helped to shape the modern world.
Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1994 we’ve awarded almost £590million to more than 1,400 industrial, maritime and transport heritage projects across the UK.
We want to help more people conserve their local industrial heritage. Our funding can pave the way for skills to be passed on to younger generations.
What do we support?
Projects we fund include:
- printing presses
- pumping engines
- windmills
- historic ships
- locomotives
- natural landscapes transformed by industry
Project ideas
Our funding could help people:
- uncover and record people’s memories of our industrial past
- give a disused site a new purpose
- restore and maintain operating machinery
- reveal the history of industry in your area
- explore the nation's network of canals
- provide staffed visitor facilities and learning resources
- help young people learn new skills and care for their heritage
See the stories and projects below for more inspiration.
All types of heritage organisation can take the DASH survey
News
Calling all heritage organisations: address your digital needs by taking the DASH survey
Taking the Digital Attitudes and Skills for Heritage (DASH) survey helps heritage organisations understand and address their digital needs – and helps us understand them too.
Stories
Britain’s last major bell foundry saved
The restoration of Loughborough Bellfoundry, thanks to £3.45million National Lottery funding, means the bells can continue to ring out for years to come.
Martha having a costume fitting
Projects
Opening up the story of Northern Ireland's railways to everyone
Disability charity Destined Ltd are improving access to the Foyle Valley Railway Museum.
Stories
Full steam ahead for Merseyside ship following emergency grant
Built in 1913, Steam Tug Kerne served as a Royal Navy ship in the First World War and is the only remaining operational steam tug of her type in the UK. But the sudden hit of coronavirus (COVID-19) meant the Kerne’s days on the water were numbered. Since her retirement as a working vessel, this coal
News
Windermere Jetty opens its doors with help from volunteer John
This weekend Windermere Jetty: Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories opens its doors to the public for the first time ever.
CGI visualisation of restored Newport Transporter Bridge
News
£8.75million boost for Newport Transporter Bridge
The world’s most complete surviving transporter bridge is set to become a major tourist attraction thanks to an £8.75m National Lottery grant.
News
25 years: restoring the prosperity and pride of Blaenavon
Blaenavon: a community reborn Perched high on a South Wales hillside, Blaenavon is a community forged from the heat, smoke and dust of the Industrial Revolution. Its ironworks and coal pit provided the majority of the town’s residents with employment until 1980. The town's shops, churches, chapels
News
Help us shape the future of heritage funding and strategy
UK Heritage Pulse is a collaborative research project for the UK’s heritage sector, creating a broad and diverse community – and we want you to be part of it. The information you share through our quarterly UK Heritage Pulse surveys will help shape our strategy and funding approaches. In return, you
Sustainability award 2021 winner: Penzance Jubilee Pool
Stories
Could you be the Sustainable Project of the Year 2022?
The National Heritage Lottery Fund is sponsoring the sustainability category at the Museums + Heritage Awards for a third year running – entries are now open for 2022.
News
Full steam ahead for the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
North Wales’ largest tourist attraction has secured a £3.1million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant.
Basic Page
How we're tackling climate change
In our corporate plan we have committed to play our part in tackling climate change – both within our organisation and in our grant giving.
Projects
Roundhouse Birmingham: historical discovery, outdoor activities and urban enterprise
This iconic building has been brought back to life and is now inviting people to #SeeTheCityDifferently.
Site of the new marine park at Plymouth.
Credit: Chris Gorman/Big Ladder Photography
News
Heritage Horizon Awards: £50million to five life-changing projects
From the Scottish mountains to England's southwest coast, these big heritage ideas champion environmental, community and cultural heritage as part of our Heritage Horizon Awards.
Site of the new marine park at Plymouth.
Credit: Chris Gorman/Big Ladder Photography
Projects
Building Plymouth Sound, the UK’s first National Marine Park
We are granting £9.5million to support the creation of Plymouth Sound's 'Park in the Sea', helping communities and tackling the effects of climate change.
News
£1.5million for Anglesey Column and Cardiff’s Flat Holm Island
A monument to a Napoleonic War hero and a nature haven which is home to a former cholera hospital are getting a £1.5m boost from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales.
Projects
RPSI 2020
Thanks to National Lottery funding and the support of their dedicated volunteers, the Railway Preservation Society for Ireland (RPSI) have been able to preserve and bring the story of Ireland’s railways to life.
Boundary Way allotments, Wolverhampton
News
Our new report uncovers impact of COVID-19 crisis on heritage
We commissioned Renaisi to find out how heritage organisations across the UK used our emergency funding, which was delivered at speed from April last year. The report reveals the positive impact the Heritage Emergency Fund had on the sector, as we distributed £49,829,600 to 961 heritage
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Brush up your business skills and strengthen resilience
Applications are open for training and development opportunities to help heritage organisations build better businesses.
A Transport for Wales train
News
Boosting biodiversity at Welsh railway stations
A grant of £100,000 will see train passengers in South East Wales and North Wales getting closer to nature.