Areas, buildings and monuments

Areas, buildings and monuments

People walking up steps to a castle with turret
Lincoln Castle. Credit: Colin McLean Photography
Safeguarding our historic buildings, monuments and archaeology for future generations.

Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1994 we have awarded £3.3billion to more than 10,300 area, historic building and monument projects across the UK. See stories from projects we've funded below.

We provide grants for heritage projects from £10,000–£10million to ensure that heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.

These projects can help to sustain jobs, support economic growth and protect heritage at risk. They can also bolster local pride, nurture traditional craft skills and help communities enjoy and make use of the places they care about.

What do we support?

Projects we fund include:

  • investment in places of worship
  • conservation and repairs to historic buildings and places
  • finding appropriate new uses for historic buildings
  • community archaeology projects

Places of worship

Places of worship are among the UK’s oldest and most cherished historic buildings. We want to help congregations become truly resilient and their buildings genuinely sustainable.

Project ideas

Our funding could help people:

  • repair and transform a historic building at the heart of their community
  • help volunteers learn building conservation skills
  • rescue a building on a Buildings at Risk register
  • undertake a community archaeology project
  • regenerate a historic town centre or high street
  • look after and learn about a local war memorial

How to get funding

Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.

Visitors interact with collections at No 5 Vicar's Hill

Projects

Restoring Number 5 Vicars Hill, Armagh

Number 5, Vicar’s Hill is an 18th-century Grade A listed building, which was originally built to hold records for the cathedral and Armagh diocese.

The Royal Museum, Scotland

Projects

Revitalising Edinburgh's Royal Museum

This project helped revitalise the Royal Museum, transforming the public use of the building, while remaining sensitive to its original Victorian architecture.

The main hallway of the Bishop's Palace following renovation
The main hallway of the Bishop's Palace following renovation

Projects

Repair and Conservation of the Bishop's Palace

Eden Court Theatre led on this project to repair and conserve the historic fabric of the Bishop’s Palace in Inverness, Scotland.

Brockwell Park Lido
Brockwell Park Lido

Projects

Brockwell Park Lido

The Brockwell Park Lido has been repaired and its future at the heart of the local community assured.

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.

Black icons of a nail and mallet, representing traditional heritage building skills

Projects

Botolph's Barn

Helpston Parochial Church Council used this grant to restore and convert the Grade II listed Botolph’s Barn into a community facility and exhibition space celebrating the 19th century poet John Clare.

The high Victorian gothic house, Tyntesfield
The high Victorian gothic house, Tyntesfield

Projects

Saving Tyntesfield for the nation

Our grant provided for building conservation, with an endowment to support the estate in opening the house and grounds to a wider audience, and providing learning activities.

An example of Bedford High Street: before and after the project

Projects

Bedford High Street THI

Bedford High Street is in a designated conservation area, but before our grant for the restoration of some of its historic buildings, it was looking shabby and unloved.

A block icon representing a shop

Projects

Bridgend Townscape Heritage Initiative Phase II

The historic commercial core of the once flourishing town of Bridgend is to be further conserved and redeveloped as part of an ongoing initiative to drive forward economic and social regeneration.

A street in Pontypool

Projects

Pontypool Town Centre THI

The Pontypool Townscape Heritage Initiative is contributing to Torfaen County Borough Council’s regeneration strategy and vision for Pontypool town centre.

Keighley Town Centre
Keighley Town Centre

Projects

Keighley Town Centre

A £2.7million grant scheme in Keighley is transforming the Yorkshire market town, through a mix of streetscape and building improvements, and reminding visitors and locals of its proud heritage.

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