Industrial, maritime and transport
Casting a bell at Taylor's Bellfoundry. Photo: Katelyn Collins.
Celebrating the innovative buildings, transport and technology that helped shape the modern world.
Since 1994 we have awarded £630million to 1,600 industrial, maritime and transport projects across the UK.
We want to help more people conserve their local industrial heritage and pass on skills to younger generations.
What do we support?
Projects we fund include:
- printing presses
- pumping engines
- windmills
- historic ships
- locomotives
- natural landscapes transformed by industry
Project ideas
Our funding could help people:
- uncover and record people’s memories of our industrial past
- give a disused site a new purpose
- restore and maintain operating machinery
- reveal the history of industry in your area
- explore the nation's network of canals
- provide staffed visitor facilities and learning resources
- help young people learn new skills and care for their heritage
See the stories and projects below for more inspiration.
How to get funding
If you have an idea for a project, we would love to hear from you.
News
Local schools preliminary Charting Chipeling dig
Children, aged 4–11, came from Bolton-on-Swale St. Mary’s Primary Church of England School, Brompton-on-Swale Church of England and North and South Cowton Community Primary schools to dig in the grounds of the Jacobean Hall with local Archaeologist, Jim Brightman, of Solstice Heritage. Mr Brightman
16 to 60: A Woman's Voice - Young Roots project to discover the histroy of Pakistani, Bengali and Somali communities in Cardiff
News
Young Roots offering up to £50,000 for Welsh heritage projects
Young people can get as creative as they like in interpreting what heritage means to them - previous projects have organised masquerade balls, photography exhibitions, fashion shows and even a circus performance. 11-25 year olds wanting to apply should come up with a creative idea and join up with a
News
Grant puts Postal Museum on track
The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) is pleased to announce today that it has been awarded £4.5m by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), putting delivery of a subterranean ride on Mail Rail – the old Post Office Underground Railway – on track. HLF’s grant is a major vote of confidence in the BPMA
News
Love Barrow, Love Heritage
Over the past 20 years, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has invested £8m into conserving Barrow’s heritage and helping local people explore their past. Sara Hilton, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “Barrow-in-Furness is packed to the rafters with some wonderful heritage. From
News
Canterbury Cathedral celebrates!
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced earmarked funding worth £72million for six major sites in England: Canterbury Cathedral, Mother Church of the Anglican Communion and a World Heritage Site Nottingham Castle, backdrop to some of England’s most powerful folk stories Bath Abbey, one
News
£12.8m to bring Plymouth's legends to life at major new attraction
Plymouth is celebrating a truly historic moment after scooping earmarked funding of £12.8million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to create a major new historic and cultural attraction at the very heart of the city. The HLF today announced the results of its major grants (applications of £5m and
News
'Not Just Puddings and Parkin' at Selby High School
Students from the Let’s Get Cooking and Growing Club will investigate traditional Yorkshire food heritage and look at Yorkshire farming, fishing, food production and preservation methods. They will research and recreate traditional Yorkshire dishes using time honoured recipes and cooking techniques
News
HMS Caroline restoration work to start
Funding for the first stages of restoration work on HMS Caroline has been confirmed following the transfer of the ship’s ownership from the MoD to the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN). A two-stage funding process means the first tranche of work can now begin to save HMS Caroline from further
News
Bees, boats and Brunel
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is announcing funding of £30m towards 10 projects that reflect the diversity of the UK’s heritage. They include a far-reaching project to help protect the future of our seriously dwindling bee population, two projects which showcase Bristol as one of the major
News
HLF Wales Committee welcomes new member
The Wales Committee is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region who are chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on applications to the Fund from £100,000 to £2million, the committee are supported by the Wales HLF team
News
HLF South East England Committee welcomes new member
The HLF Committee for the South East is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on regional applications to the Fund from £100,000 to £2million, the committee are supported by
News
ss Great Britain Trust plans for major new visitor experience – ‘Being Brunel’
The total cost of the project is estimated at £7m and the ss Great Britain Trust has approached HLF for a grant of £4.7m. The initial grant of £176,000 will enable the trust to develop the project proposal and submit a Round Two application. If that application is successful the ‘Being Brunel’