An £8m grant will restore and convert the Grade II* listed Jumbo Water Tower in Colchester, making it accessible to the public for the first time as a heritage and events space.

Standing proud at 131 feet tall, Jumbo is the last intact listed water tower from a golden age of industrial water engineering. Constructed using 1.2m locally produced bricks, it was built to hold 1,000 tons of clean water.

Jumbo will become a leading destination and a resource for the community, with life changing opportunities to get involved and learn skills.

Simon Hall MBE, Chair of Colchester North East Essex Heritage

Simon Hall MBE, Chair of Colchester North East Essex Heritage, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, Jumbo will become a leading destination and a resource for the community, with life changing opportunities to get involved and learn skills. The funding will ensure we can inspire future generations and diverse groups, attract visitors, provide jobs and create a financially sustainable asset.”

Plans for Sheffield’s Grade II* listed Canada House in Castlegate struck a chord with us. We’ve awarded it £4.7m to restore and transform the former offices of the Sheffield United Gas Light Company into a vibrant new home for young musicians called Harmony Works.

Ninety years after first opening, work is now underway to redevelop the Strand in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s last remaining art deco picture house. With the help of a £768,000 award to Belfast City Council, it will continue to be treasured by people across Northern Ireland.

The other projects we’ve funded include:

• Palais de Danse, St Ives (£2.8m) to open the building to visitors for the first time in 65 years, revealing a 300-year story linking the work of Barbara Hepworth with the building’s significance to the local community
• Kingsley Hall, Bristol (£4.7m) to renovate the building once part of the medieval marketplace into a place of opportunity for young people at risk of homelessness, developing their skills and strengthening their sense of identity
• Marchwell Stables, Chichester (£1.3m) to transform the derelict Grade II listed former stables into affordable and accessible creative spaces to support local makers and people facing barriers to employment
• The Old Royal High School, Edinburgh (£437,046 development funding ahead of a potential delivery grant of up to £5m) to secure its long-term future by creating a new cultural centre for the community and visitors with learning and career development opportunities

Saving treasured heritage

Today’s announcement coincides with Heritage Treasures Day, our social media campaign which spotlights the diverse range of heritage projects across the UK that have been saved thanks to funding from National Lottery players.

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It is wonderful to start the New Year investing in projects that are saving heritage treasures across the UK. With decades of shared memories, these exceptional buildings will be repurposed for the 21st century at the centre of communities and places.

“We'll work with those who care for heritage, transforming historic gems and positively adding to wellbeing and educational opportunities for young people, making heritage the focus of communities, places and the UK economy.”

Our commitment to the sector's needs

Over the past 30 years, we have awarded £3.3bn to more than 10,300 historic building and monument projects, helping to ensure the UK's heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.

Find out more about what we can fund and example projects we’ve supported.