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.

Children learning about a pipe organ in a workshop
Children learning about a pipe organ in a workshop

Projects

Lancaster Priory organ replacement

Lancaster Priory acquired a historic organ and held a series of public activities.

Children exploring their local natural heritage
Children exploring their local natural heritage

Projects

Rose of the Shires

People learned about, recorded and became actively involved in caring for the fascinating built and natural heritage on their doorstep.

Water wheel which powers Shepherd Wheel
Water wheel which powers Shepherd Wheel

Projects

Shepherd Wheel Conservation Project

The Shepherd Wheel, the only remaining working example of a metal working shop and a Scheduled Ancient Monument, is gazed at in wonder by more than 30,000 people a year.

Outside view of Preston Hall

Projects

Preston Hall Museum Project

Following a £7million refurbishment Preston Hall is able to display a wider range of the 90,000-plus items in the Stockton Museum Services' collection.

Children performing at City Varieties Music Hall
Children performing at City Varieties Music Hall

Projects

City Varieties Music Hall

Comedy, dancing and music used to ring out triumphantly at Leeds City Varieties Music Hall, but its auditorium had fallen silent and it was threatened with closure under health and safety grounds. It was at this crucial point that a £2,739,000 grant was awarded to ensure its survival.

The outside of York Minster
York Minster

Projects

York Minster Revealed

The centrepiece of this major project was conserving the Great East Window, the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the country.

Young people in Peterborough city centre

Projects

Peterborough Buildings In Need

This project aimed to increase understanding of the historic environment of Peterborough’s City Centre Conservation Area.

An image of a medival vestment showing a crucifix, religious figures and angles.
The restoration of a medieval vestment from St John's

Projects

Restoration of Medieval Vestment

The restoration of a medieval vestment from St John's RC Church, Lancashire

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