The £48million investment will save some of the nation’s most significant heritage, create 100 jobs and boost tourism across England.

Sir Peter Luff, Chair of HLF, said: “This investment, every penny of which has been made possible by National Lottery players, is a powerful demonstration of the range, beauty, fascination and significance of our nation’s heritage.”

[quote= Peter Luff, Chair of HLF]“We must remember that heritage isn’t just about buildings, archives and wildlife, important as these things are. It's also about the people and communities whose lives they changed in the past – and will change in the future.”[/quote]

Eight projects made possible by National Lottery players

• £2.3m for Bristol Old Vic, in the year it marks its 250th anniversary, to carry out major restoration work, conserve and digitise its theatrical heritage archives and bring Thunder Run – an 18th-century ‘surround system’ in the roof space which mimicked thunder during performances – back to life
• £10.9m for Beamish Museum to open up a new decade of North East life and continue to build on growing visitor numbers. A 1950s town will be filled with objects and stories donated by local people, feature Aged Miners’ Homes repurposed as a wellbeing centre and include a cinema moved brick by brick from another town
• £3.4m for the Archway Centre project in Bath which will create a Learning Centre and World Heritage Centre at the Roman Baths and open up areas of Roman remains, including a rare laconicum (sauna) and an exercise courtyard
• £2.5m for the Canal & River Trust to restore the Montgomery Canal for people and wildlife
• £4.6m for the Royal Air Force Museum’s programme to connect a global audience with the RAF’s centenary in 2018
• £7.6m to create the Medicine Galleries at the Science Museum, based on the extraordinary collections of Sir Henry Wellcome
• £3.6m for the Royal College of Music’s project to create new displays and a performance space for its collection of historic instruments, including the world’s earliest surviving guitar
• £12.8m for Canterbury Cathedral to carry out vital restoration and develop a Pilgrims Pass scheme

Heritage and culture belong to everyone

Sir Peter Luff added: “We must remember that heritage isn’t just about buildings, archives and wildlife, important as these things are. It's also about the people and communities whose lives they changed in the past – and will change in the future.

"It's about the tourism and regeneration that will boost local economies, about the new jobs, the new training programmes and the new volunteering roles that will be created. It's also about the visitors from all walks of life who will gain new insights into our shared heritage.”

Karen Bradley, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, welcomed the news. She said: "Our heritage and culture belongs to everyone. It lies at the heart of our communities and has the power to create jobs, boost tourism and the local community. It is fantastic to see such a wonderful range of heritage and museum projects receive generous funding thanks to National Lottery Players.”