Industrial, maritime and transport

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

Smeaton's Tower.

Projects

Plymouth Sound National Marine Park

We've awarded £11.6million to help create the UK's first National Marine Park, revolutionising the way Plymouth interacts with its marine heritage.

29/06/2021

Family gathered on the platform at Whitehead Railway station watching a locomotive approach

Projects

Vital volunteers preserve and share railway heritage

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.

16/11/2010

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.

08/04/2021

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.

22/01/2021

Taylor Bell Foundry Loughborough - row of bells created by the foundry

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.

Landing Craft Tank LCT 7074 in its new location in Portsmouth

News

Last surviving D-Day landing craft opens in Portsmouth

Six-year project to restore ship and open it up to the public is completed thanks to £4.7million National Lottery support.

12/12/2020

Martha having a costume fitting

Projects

Foyle Valley Transport and Railway Museum

Disability charity Destined Ltd are improving access to the Foyle Valley Railway Museum.

03/03/2020

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

Trainee Scott Dixon

News

Blyth Tall Ship kept afloat thanks to National Lottery funding

Blyth Tall Ship was awarded £37,100 from our Heritage Emergency Fund , ensuring that workshops and training opportunities could carry on. The organisation provides young people with invaluable engineering skills through heritage boat building. “We knew we were a vital lifeline for those looking for

13/07/2020