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
Saving the UK’s last major bellfoundry
We helped Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust restore and improve the site, secure the future of the historic industry in Britain and redevelop their museum.
Projects
Sharing Barrow's past, present and future
The Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness has undergone a major refurbishment to celebrate the area’s rich shipbuilding and engineering heritage.
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.
Publications
Understanding the context and needs of the maritime heritage sector
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stories
Inclusion, access and participation: eight ways to improve your project’s reach and impact
Stories
Celebrating Bradford as the City of Culture 2025
Stories
Protecting the environment: ten ideas for built heritage and community projects
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.
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.
News
£14.8million awarded to projects forging the future of our industrial past
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.
News
Six organisations shortlisted for Sustainable Project of the Year 2024
News
Hundreds of special heritage offers across the UK this spring
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.