Areas, buildings and monuments | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

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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.

Places of worship we fund

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.

Find out more and apply

A group of swimmers in red swimsuits jumping out of the water at Cleveland Pools

Swimmers celebrating Cleveland Pools being open for swimming once again.

Stories

Cleveland Pools opens for swimming after 40 years

The UK's oldest open-air swimming pool has reopened, following a £9.3million restoration project that brought the site back to life.

The facade of Belsay Hall on a sunny day, with visitors exploring the grounds

Visitors attending the opening day at Belsay hall and gardens.

Projects

Restoring one of England’s earliest Greek Revival houses and Grade I listed gardens

The Belsay Awakes project, led by English Heritage, has revived Belsay’s historic estate and gardens so that the visitor attraction can be enjoyed for years to come.

12/12/2017

Photograph of a church

St James' Aslackby

Projects

St James Aslackby: Preserving Heritage, Fostering Community, and Bringing History to Life

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St James Aslackby are using the building’s heritage to make it a vibrant space for the community.

22/10/2021

A view across Tarbert harbour, in the foreground to the right are some leaves and a rocky foreshore. To the left is a jetty and a yacht. IN the background harbour front building with hill behind them.

Tarbert, one of eight Scottish places developing heritage driven regeneration.

News

Putting heritage at the heart of regenerating places

For the first time, we have joined forces with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to support heritage driven regeneration plans in communities across the nation. Together we've awarded £863,050 of development funding – of which just over half comes from the Heritage Fund – to eight projects

10/08/2023

Two people holding a sign for a local community organisation standing outside a historic pub building

Work is starting to restore the Y Plu pub and transform it into a local cultural hub

Projects

Saving a 200-year-old community pub on the Llŷn Peninsula

Our funding is helping the Menter y Plu Community Benefit Society plan how to save and re-develop a Grade II listed pub – Y Plu.

24/11/2022

Carreg Fawr, the house on the remote Bardsey Island where the artist Brenda Chamberlain lived

Carreg Fawr, the house on the remote Bardsey Island where the artist Brenda Chamberlain lived

Projects

Conserving the Brenda Chamberlain Murals

Our funding has helped preserve murals painted by the Welsh artist, poet and writer Brenda Chamberlain and her home on Bardsey Island.

15/08/2012

Illustrated map showing 58 UK UNESCO sites

The UNESCO illustrated map, showing 58 heritage sites across the UK.

Projects

UNESCO launch a new illustrated map of the UK’s top heritage sites

Designed by Birmingham-based creative cartographer Tom Woolley, the map shows all 58 sites, cities and natural landscapes, helping to bring to life the huge variety of heritage on people’s doorsteps.

13/07/2022

The front of Boston Manor House, a Jacobean building set within parkland

The facade of Boston Manor House.

Projects

The doors of Boston Manor House have reopened following a £5.7m investment

Following the completion of a five-year restoration project costing £5.7million, Boston Manor House in Brentford has opened to the public once again.

22/03/2016

Several picture frames with images related to the sea and naval history on a blue background

Lowestoft and the Sea exhibition at Lowestoft Town Hall

Projects

Revitalizing Lowestoft's Town Hall: illuminating heritage through digital experiences

Transforming a Grade II Listed Town Hall into a vibrant heritage hub, Lowestoft Town Council aims to ignite community pride and economic growth.

15/09/2021

The front exterior of Hyde Park Picture House

The newly restored and renovated front of Hyde Park Picture House

Projects

The Picture House Project: revamping an iconic Leeds cinema

The Hyde Park Picture House is one of the UK's oldest and most treasured cinemas – now restored to its former glory, and updated for a new generation of visitors.

26/07/2016

A group of 13 people standing outside a building listening to a tour guide as part of a community walking tour

A walking tour delivered as part of the Heritage Trust Network's National Lottery funded project.

Stories

How the Heritage Trust Network is bringing the sector together to learn and develop

Its mix of peer support, events and online resources is helping heritage organisations with everything from financial resilience and governance to inclusion and digital skills.

The exterior of a restored victorian bank in Bacup, Lancashire

This Grade II listed former bank in Bacup, Lancashire was restored as a co-working hub and residential apartments

News

Apply for £70,000 grants to support built heritage regeneration organisations

The UK-wide programme will provide funding and support to community-led trusts that save historic buildings and give them a new lease of life to benefit local people.

24/05/2023