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Industrial, maritime and transport

Industrial, maritime and transport

Three people stand inside a factory casting a large bell. Molten metal pours from a container held in the air by a hoist
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.

Explore our available funding
A group of people posing for a photo

Projects

Waterway Heritage Skills

The Canal & River Trust’s Waterways Heritage Skills Project created a pool of committed and skilled young people in waterway heritage skills, filling skills gaps within the Trust’s own workforce and the wider heritage sector.

Aerial view of Plymouth coast with lighthouse and dramatic sunrise
Site of the new marine park at Plymouth. Credit: Chris Gorman/Big Ladder Photography

News

Heritage Horizon Awards: £50million to five life-changing projects

We are proud to announce the recipients of our Heritage Horizon Awards. Over £50million of funding has been awarded to five transformational projects across the UK. When we launched the Heritage Horizon Awards in 2019, we set out to fund ideas that unlocked possibility. From innovative farming
A red and white lighthouse at sunset
Smeaton's Tower. Credit: Summit Imagery.

Projects

Plymouth Sound National Marine Park

We've awarded £11.6million to help create the UK's first National Marine Park, revolutionising the way Plymouth interacts with its marine heritage.

Family gathered on the platform at Whitehead Railway station watching a locomotive approach

Projects

Vital volunteers preserve and share railway heritage

Thanks to National Lottery funding and the support of their dedicated volunteers, the Railway Preservation Society for Ireland (RPSI) have been able to preserve and bring the story of Ireland’s railways to life.

CGI visualisation of restored Newport Transporter Bridge
CGI visualisation of restored Newport Transporter Bridge

News

£8.75million boost for Newport Transporter Bridge

The world’s most complete surviving transporter bridge is set to become a major tourist attraction thanks to an £8.75m National Lottery grant.
The Steam Tug Kerne

Stories

Full steam ahead for Merseyside ship following emergency grant

Built in 1913, Steam Tug Kerne served as a Royal Navy ship in the First World War and is the only remaining operational steam tug of her type in the UK. But the sudden hit of coronavirus (COVID-19) meant the Kerne’s days on the water were numbered. Since her retirement as a working vessel, this coal
Person using drill
Trainee Scott Dixon

News

Blyth Tall Ship kept afloat thanks to National Lottery funding

Blyth Tall Ship was awarded £37,100 from our Heritage Emergency Fund, ensuring that workshops and training opportunities could carry on. The organisation provides young people with invaluable engineering skills through heritage boat building. “We knew we were a vital lifeline for those looking for

If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team.