Industrial, maritime and transport

Industrial, maritime and transport

two people pulling a rope on a historic ship, with a river estuary in the background
Tom Curtis and Simon Whitehouse from The Pioneer Sailing Trust working on the CK18 Pioneer. Credit: Megan Taylor.
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.

People in historic dress at Scruton Station
Interactive history sessions at Scruton Station

Projects

Scruton station heritage and educational programme

Restored Victorian Railway station brought to life through vibrant education programme and improved interpretation to connect with local communities.

The Cambria in sail whilst moored as a visitor attraction at St Katharine’s Docks
The Cambria in sail whilst moored as a visitor attraction at St Katharine’s Docks

Projects

A new lease of life for Sailing Barge Cambria

This project repaired the last fully sailing Thames trading barge, and converted her into an educational resource.

Inside Chatham Historic Dockyard
Inside Chatham Historic Dockyard

Projects

National Museums at Chatham - No 1 Smithery

A derelict Grade II* listed smithery at the heart of Chatham Historic Dockyard was conserved and transformed creating a home for the National Model Ship Collection.

Front view of The Station, Richmond
Front view of The Station.

Projects

Richmond Station Regeneration Project

A volunteer-run charity acquired Grade II* listed Richmond Station in North Yorkshire and transformed it into a self-sustaining heritage and leisure attraction for the local community.

Underneath the Cutty Sark

Projects

Cutty Sark Conservation Project

The Cutty Sark conservation project has helped to save one of the world’s last surviving tea clippers and provided generations to come with a new way to engage with the ship and explore her history.

Two teenage trainees lay a new railway track by hand supervised by an older volunteer
Trainees develop practical skills supervised by experienced volunteers

Projects

Industrial railway trail - display track and viewing area

The construction of a demonstration light railway has preserved vital engineering skills, and helped young people get in touch with their heritage.

Five men stand in a life boat ready to be launched
Seaham lifeboat

Projects

George Elmy Heritage Project

Following the eBay purchase of the derelict George Elmy lifeboat by a group of dedicated volunteers, this project sought to return the lifeboat to its former glory and use it to learn about their local heritage.

View of SS Great Britain

Projects

Securing the future of SS Great Britain

This conservation project has protected SS Great Britain from corrosion, meaning more people can explore the ship and discover maritime heritage in Bristol.

Children visit Big Pit National Mining Museum

Projects

Big Pit: National Mining Museum of Wales

Big Pit Mining Museum, with its underground workings, buildings, machinery and extensive collections, is the best surviving example of the mining industry in Wales.