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
25 years: restoring the prosperity and pride of Blaenavon
Blaenavon: a community reborn Perched high on a South Wales hillside, Blaenavon is a community forged from the heat, smoke and dust of the Industrial Revolution. Its ironworks and coal pit provided the majority of the town’s residents with employment until 1980. The town's shops, churches, chapels
News
25 years: voices from Blaenavon
For over a quarter of a century, The National Lottery has been a major catalyst to revive and regenerate communities across the UK through heritage. We visited Blaenavon to see how National Lottery funding has helped this once beleaguered post-industrial town revive its fortunes and restore its
Blogs
How working internationally can boost tourism for heritage organisations
The Historic Dockyard Chatham has always worked internationally, but on a relatively small scale. We stepped this up considerably in 2017 through our project commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Medway Raid. The Medway Raid - a history It was 1667, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. The Dutch
News
Future of the historic Union Chain Bridge secured
For 200 years the Union Chain Bridge has crossed the River Tweed, connecting Fishwick in Scotland to Horncliffe in England. Thanks to National Lottery funding, crucial repair works beginning early next year will ensure this link continues. To celebrate the cross-border project, His Royal Highness
News
The first six months: our Strategic Funding Framework
2019 has been an exciting year for The National Lottery Heritage Fund. In January we changed our name and branding, and with it the way we work and distribute our grants. We now have open programmes of funding for all kinds of heritage, from £3,000 up to £5million. In June we launched the Heritage
News
Ways to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing
One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind, and a host of heritage events to celebrate the occasion!
Stories
Four artists on how heritage has inspired them
As the Luminary installation opens at the National Lottery-funded Crossness Pumping Station, we spoke to four artists who combine old and new in their work.
News
Jodrell Bank named as new UNESCO World Heritage Site
Jodrell Bank in Cheshire has today been named a new World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
News
National Lottery funding for three volunteer-led projects in Scotland
Three new projects in Scotland, with volunteering at their heart, have secured significant support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
News
Launch of £100million Heritage Horizon Awards
We will invest £100million over the next three years in ambitious, innovative and transformational projects that will revolutionise UK heritage.
News
New life for the derelict Sheerness Dockyard Church
Once a symbol of Britain’s proud naval heritage, the future of Dockyard Church now lies in the hands of Kent’s aspiring young business leaders.
News
Marvellous mills to explore this National Mills Weekend
The ultimate in sustainable power, hundreds of windmills across the country are opening up their doors to the public for National Mills Weekend (11-12 May). We've chosen some of our favourites.