1. Home
  2. Our work
  3. Industrial, maritime and transport

View as PDF

Industrial, maritime and transport

Industrial, maritime and transport

Person using a drill in a boatyard workshop
Trainee at Blyth Tall Ship heritage boat workshop
Celebrating the innovative buildings, transport and technology that helped shape the modern world.

Since 1994 we have awarded over £610million to more than 1,500 industrial, maritime and transport projects across the UK.

We want to help more people conserve their local industrial heritage and pass on skills 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. 

How to get funding

If you have an idea for a project, we would love to hear from you.

Explore our available funding
Ted at his shop in Forest Gate
Ted at Etty & Tyler motor and cycle repair shop in Forest Gate.

Projects

Full Cycle: a history of cycling in Forest Gate

This project will look at the cycling history of Forest Gate in Newham – an important cycling epicentre in the late 19th century close to Epping Forest.

A car crosses the Union Chain Bridge, a small restored suspension bridge over a river.
The Union Chain Bridge reopens to traffic following major restoration project.

News

Oldest vehicle suspension bridge in the world reopens

This World Heritage Day we celebrate the reopening of the iconic Union Chain Bridge that has connected England and Scotland for 202 years.
An aerial view of Leas Lift on the cliff edge with town buildings above
The water balance cliff lift provides step-free access from the Leas to the seafront and Lower Coastal Park.

News

£4.8million funding boost to revive Folkestone Leas Lift

The rare surviving water lift, a remarkable example of Victorian engineering, will be returned to its original use connecting seafront and town.
Brunel's SS Great Britain in the dry dock.
Brunel's SS Great Britain in the dry dock. Photo: Adam Gasson / SS Great Britain Trust.

Stories

Case study: SS Great Britain – Voyage to Carbon Neutral

The SS Great Britain Trust's innovative decarbonising of the conservation system for the world's first iron ship jointly won Sustainable Project of the Year at the Museums + Heritage Awards.
Illustrated map showing 58 UK UNESCO sites
The UNESCO illustrated map, showing 58 heritage sites across the UK.

Projects

UNESCO launch a new illustrated map of the UK’s top heritage sites

Designed by Birmingham-based creative cartographer Tom Woolley, the map shows all 58 sites, cities and natural landscapes, helping to bring to life the huge variety of heritage on people’s doorsteps.

A computerised impression of the new railway heritage building
An impression of what the new heritage railway attraction might look like. Credit: Darlington Borough Council

Projects

Stockton and Darlington Railway

A state-of-the-art visitor attraction and new community engagement scheme will celebrate this historic railway line.

Colourful illustration of water works building with celebration fireworks drawn by Quentin Blake
Quentin Blake's illustration of the Engine House building, the new home of the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration. Credit: Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration.

Projects

New centre for illustration: celebrating Quentin Blake’s 90th birthday

A new development grant brings the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration one step closer to realising their ambition for a new space, creating a permanent home for illustration in the UK.