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Industrial, maritime and transport

Industrial, maritime and transport

Three people stand inside a factory casting a large bell. Molten metal pours from a container held in the air by a hoist
Casting a bell at Taylor's Bellfoundry. Photo: Katelyn Collins.
Celebrating the innovative buildings, transport and technology that helped shape the modern world.

Since 1994 we have awarded over £630million to more than 1,600 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
A group of people in high-vis standing around a table converted from an old railway wagon
A behind the scenes tour of the newly renovated Boston Lodge. Credit: Chris Parry.

Stories

How volunteers are powering a historic railway

Boston Lodge shows that investing in people and skills can inspire visitors, boost volunteering and transform heritage.
A person wearing ear protection stands behind brightly coloured threads.
Ribbon Weaver at Wyedean Weaving Company. Credit: Tim Smith.

Projects

Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions

This oral history project captured the unheard voices of Bradford’s textile mill workers to celebrate the area’s rich industrial heritage.

Four people stand in front of a train engine and hold a progress pride flag
Joanna Jarvis , Imogen Watmore, Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn and Harvey Barker holding Pride banner in front of HST loco in Great Hall, National Railway Museum, (NRM) York. © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

Stories

Mind the gap: uncovering missing stories from railway history

People, Pride and Progress is recording the experiences of LGBTQ+ workers to explore unheard perspectives on railway heritage.
Three people stand inside a factory casting a large bell. Molten metal pours from a container held in the air by a hoist
Casting a bell at Taylor's Bellfoundry. Photo: Katelyn Collins.

Projects

Saving the UK’s last major bellfoundry

We helped Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust restore and improve the site, secure the future of the historic industry in Britain and redevelop their museum.

Banners and historic photographs inside the Shipbuilders Gallery.
Inside the new shipbuilding gallery which is showcasing the area's rich heritage. Credit: The Dock Museum.

Projects

Sharing Barrow's past, present and future

The Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness has undergone a major refurbishment to celebrate the area’s rich shipbuilding and engineering heritage.

A group of people in hard hats and hi-vis jackets standing under Glasgow Meat Market's historic sheds.
Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland (centre) with Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, and representatives of Glasgow Meat Market Regeneration CIC. Credit: Kirsty Anderson

Projects

A thriving community hub is taking shape at Glasgow's Meat Market

Regeneration plans for Glasgow’s former East End Meat Market to become a thriving hub for community, sport and local business have been given a huge boost with the announcement of £2.3million of National Lottery support.

A group of people outside a heritage building featuring a clock tower at Hopetown Darlington.
Staff from Darlington Borough Council and Hopetown.Darlington at the new visitor attraction. Photo: Ellen Hunter.

Projects

Hopetown: celebrating the North East’s railway heritage

A state-of-the-art visitor attraction and community engagement scheme celebrates the historic Stockton and Darlington railway line.

Working at the wool mill
Uist Wool now has a skilled group of people, living locally in Uist

Projects

Calanas – transforming textile traditions

Uist Wool Mill is now a vibrant hub of economic activity, skills development and a centre that celebrates the wool-producing heritage of the region.

A rock walled mineshaft illuminated by torchlight stretched into the distance, in the foreground the silhouette of a person wearing a miners helmet and looking along the tunnel
In Lochnell Mine visitors can experience how Wanlockhead's miners worked. Photo: The National Lottery Heritage Fund/Leyla Webbe.

Projects

Lead turns Gold! The Museum of Lead Mining is 50

Situated at the top of the Mennock Pass the museum is a hub for information, equipment and permits for gold panning in the area.

A large group of young people cheering outdoors
Participants in the New to Nature programme including future Game Changer, Lisa Manning.

News

Meet the future game changers of heritage

The next phase of The National Lottery’s Game Changer campaign highlights the incredible impact of young adults across the UK.
A group of stonemasons talk to Caroline Clark from the National Lottery Heritage Fund about their craft, discussing models of their work on a table in front of them.
Left to right: stonemasons Jason Boag, Billy King and Ross Cowie, speaking to Caroline Clark, Director of Scotland at the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Credit: Kirsty Anderson.

Projects

Lock 16: Scotland’s centre of excellence for canals and traditional skills

In a former Irn Bru factory on the Forth and Clyde Canal, an inspirational new centre of learning is being built, to protect the future of Scottish heritage.

An artist kneels in front of a painted wall with an intricate pattern on a purple background
Street artist NeSpoon has created artwork on the streets of Bradford, as part of BD: Walls.

Stories

Celebrating Bradford as the City of Culture 2025

The vibrant West Yorkshire city has announced the first events to showcase its incredible heritage and culture across the district throughout 2025, thanks to National Lottery players.
A crowd of people, some in maritime uniforms, gathered around a ship's hull docked next to harbour buildings. The ship is flying Union Jack flags and nautical bunting.
Britannia in Exeter harbour. Credit: Britannia Sailing Trust.

Projects

Britannia 1915 - Relaunch

Britannia Sailing Trust is keeping maritime heritage alive by restoring a 100-year old ship and paving the way for future boatbuilders.

A black and white image of children playing in an industrial area.
A photograph from the AmberSide Collection. Photo: Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen.

Projects

Transforming Amber: Building a Resilient Future

This project will safeguard an industrial heritage archive by developing new ways for the Amber Film & Photography Collective to become financially sustainable.

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