Industrial, maritime and transport
![two people pulling a rope on a historic ship, with a river estuary in the background](/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_desktop/public/media/imgs/pioneer_sailing_trust_14_credit_megan_taylor_2.jpg.webp?itok=k48z6blU)
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.
![A steam train with The National Lottery Heritage Fund acknowledgement stamp on the front](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/ffestiniog-and-welsh-highlands-railway_.jpg.webp?itok=fej-_BIo)
Projects
Preserving railway heritage and building the future of Boston Lodge
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ Boston Lodge Project is keeping the stories, buildings and skills of the heritage railway alive for future generations.
![A crowd of people, some in maritime uniforms, gathered around a ship's hull docked next to harbour buildings. The ship is flying Union Jack flags and nautical bunting.](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/britannia_1915_-_relaunch.jpg.webp?itok=TpsZXnOJ)
Projects
Britannia 1915 - Relaunch
Britannia Sailing Trust is keeping maritime heritage alive by restoring a 100-year old ship and paving the way for future boatbuilders.
![The Hopetown Darlington team A group of people outside a heritage building featuring a clock tower at Hopetown Darlington.](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/the_hopetown_darlington_team_credit_ellen_hunter.jpg.webp?itok=oNJ1V1-w)
Projects
Hopetown: celebrating the North East’s railway heritage
A state-of-the-art visitor attraction and community engagement scheme celebrates the historic Stockton and Darlington railway line.
![the courtyard of the National Slate Museum in Llanberis, north Wales, with stone factory buildings surrounding a courtyard with industrial equipment for processing slate, and the slate mine visible in the background](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/national_slate_museum_llanberis_yard_view.jpg.webp?itok=7aqlc4Fc)
Projects
Unearthing the legacy of Welsh Slate at Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru – National Slate Museum
The museum will be transformed into a world-class visitor attraction at the heart of the Wales Slate Landscape in north west Wales.
Projects
Transforming Amber: Building a Resilient Future
This project will safeguard an industrial heritage archive by developing new ways for the Amber Film & Photography Collective to become financially sustainable.
![Two people pull a rope on the deck of a historic sailing vessel](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/pioneer_sailing_trust-9_web.jpg.webp?itok=WF-U6wXB)
News
£14.8million awarded to projects forging the future of our industrial past
![a ruined stone windmill building in the countryside](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/saintfield_community_heritage_park_mill_site.jpg.webp?itok=nJS9uY1C)
Projects
Transforming Saintfield’s Windmill Field into a community heritage park
A National Lottery windfall for Saintfield Community Association will provide much needed free-to-access green space in the historic County Down village.
Projects
Full Cycle: a history of cycling in Forest Gate
This project will look at the cycling history of Forest Gate in Newham – an important cycling epicentre in the late 19th century close to Epping Forest.
![Donaghadee Harbour with a lighthouse and a number of boats.](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/donaghadee_harbour.jpg.webp?itok=DUn61su_)
Projects
Sir Samuel Kelly Lifeboat commemorated with exhibition space in Donaghadee
Donaghadee Heritage has secured £90,000 to bring the story of the lifeboat and the town's history to life.
![Two people holding a Pride flag](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/230629_tmi_pride-nrm_di_039.jpg.webp?itok=EChRFS-u)
Projects
People, Pride and Progress: recording the histories of LGBTQ+ railway workers
Through the collection of real-life stories, this project aims to spotlight the LGBTQ+ community’s contribution to the railways for the first time.
Projects
A thriving community hub is taking shape at Glasgow's Meat Market
Regeneration plans for Glasgow’s former East End Meat Market to become a thriving hub for community, sport and local business have been given a huge boost with the announcement of £2.3million of National Lottery support.
Stories
Protecting the environment: ten ideas for built heritage and community projects
Publications
Understanding the context and needs of the maritime heritage sector
![A rock walled mineshaft illuminated by torchlight stretched into the distance, in the foreground the silhouette of a person wearing a miners helmet and looking along the tunnel](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/wanlockhead_-_mine_shaft.jpg.webp?itok=sDMDfQKu)
Projects
Lead turns Gold! The Museum of Lead Mining is 50
Situated at the top of the Mennock Pass the museum is a hub for information, equipment and permits for gold panning in the area.
![CALANAS - Transforming Textile Traditions Working at the wool mill](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/projects/maggie_at_feed_hopper.jpg.webp?itok=pTHZFj8X)
Projects
Calanas – transforming textile traditions
Uist Wool Mill is now a vibrant hub of economic activity, skills development and a centre that celebrates the wool-producing heritage of the region.
![Museums and Heritage sign at the awards ceremony](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/museums-and-heritage-awards.jpg.webp?itok=GQbsHOeF)
News
Six organisations shortlisted for Sustainable Project of the Year 2024
![A family look at a bird nesting box display](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/belfastwow-brian-morrison.jpg.webp?itok=iZxUh-fD)
News
Hundreds of special heritage offers across the UK this spring
![Helen Featherstone, Director of England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund A head and shoulders image of Helen Featherstone](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/helen_featherstone_headshot_c_roth_reed_photography.jpg.webp?itok=8mMqumzP)
Blogs
A year as Director of England, North: resilience and saving heritage
Projects
On track to tell the community’s stories of a Highland railway station
Blair Atholl station opened in 1863, as the development of rail travel opened up the Highlands to visitors and created new opportunities for local people.
Projects
Restoring the last remaining tenter frames in England
Led by Otterburn Mill, this project will carefully restore a relic from the textile industry to its former glory.
![School for Social Entrepreneurs: Heritage Trade Up residential event Three people are looking at worksheets and smiling.](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/sse_photography_-_residential_2.jpg.webp?itok=k1NNww-_)
Stories
Five tips for more robust and innovative heritage organisations
![Leas Lift, Folkestone An aerial view of Leas Lift on the cliff edge with town buildings above](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/imgs/leas-lift-aerial-chris-gorman.jpg.webp?itok=tdegyVxi)
News