Industrial, maritime and transport

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.

Projects
Industrial railway trail - display track and viewing area
The construction of a demonstration light railway has preserved vital engineering skills, and helped young people get in touch with their heritage.

Projects
George Elmy Heritage Project
Following the eBay purchase of the derelict George Elmy lifeboat by a group of dedicated volunteers, this project sought to return the lifeboat to its former glory and use it to learn about their local heritage.

Projects
Securing the future of SS Great Britain
This conservation project has protected SS Great Britain from corrosion, meaning more people can explore the ship and discover maritime heritage in Bristol.

Projects
Big Pit: National Mining Museum of Wales
Big Pit Mining Museum, with its underground workings, buildings, machinery and extensive collections, is the best surviving example of the mining industry in Wales.

Projects
Gas Girls: women workers in Avonmouth First World War Mustard Gas factories
Inspired by the stories of women who worked in Mustard Gas factories in Bristol during the First World War, local people researched this hidden history and performed a play.

Projects
Anderton Boat Lift Restoration
The Anderton Boat Lift has been brought back to life, with modern systems that respect its historic structure and significance.

Projects
Great Orme Tramway - Half Way Station & Engineering Works
This ambitious project to refurbish the only remaining cable-hauled street tramway in the UK has helped to preserve the heritage attraction for generations to come.

Projects
Gosport Milestones Heritage Trail
The history and natural heritage of Gosport was captured in this trail, connecting the local community to its surrounding environment.

Projects
The Right Track
The Right Track allowed young people to come together in a range of exciting outdoor activities whilst exploring the importance of railway and mining heritage in the North East.

Projects
Kennet and Avon Canal
The Kennet and Avon canal benefited from one of our biggest grants - £25million - to restore and protect the 200-year-old waterway.

Projects
Regeneration and resilience at Cornwall's china clay mining museum
Wheal Martyn is home to the UK’s only china clay mining museum. A fully accredited museum, Wheal Martyn cares for and presents a collection of industry-related objects, machinery, photographs and archives.

Projects
Pilot Gig Restoration - Heritage Craft at Newquay Harbour
Volunteers from Newquay Rowing Club worked alongside specialist boat builders to restore three of the country’s oldest pilot gigs using traditional skills.