January 14, 2025 3 min read

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UK National Lottery Heritage Fund Awards $33M to Save Heritage Sites

The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s CEO, Eilish McGuiness, was thrilled by the opportunity to kick 2025 off with so many investments in key heritage projects across the UK

The UK National Lottery Heritage Fund has unveiled a new project that would see it donate £27 million (approximately $33 million) to save seven lesser-known heritage treasures. The initiative aligns with the fund’s ambition to conserve Britain’s history for generations to come.

The announcement coincided with Heritage Treasures Day, a social media campaign that seeks to highlight all historical sites across the UK that have been saved from deterioration thanks to funding from lottery players.

The Fund Will Save Seven Lesser-Known Sites

One of the sites that will be restored thanks to the new funding Is the Jumbo Water Tower in Colchester. The gargantuan building is the last intact water tower from this period and a testament to the golden age of industrial water engineering.

With its 131-foot height and 1,000-ton water capacity, the Jumbo Water Tower is one of the highlights of the locale. The UK National Lottery Heritage Fund said that it would provide £8 million for the tower’s restoration and conversion into an accessible tourist location and events space.

The plans were welcomed by Simon Hall, chair of Colchester North East Essex Heritage, who thanked the National Lottery players for making this restoration possible. He said that the funding will allow Colchester to inspire future generations, attract tourists and provide new jobs.

In the meantime, the fund will provide Sheffield’s Canada House in Castlegate with £4.7 million, allowing it to transform what were once gas company offices into a “vibrant new home for young musicians called Harmony Works.”

The Belfast City Council, on the other hand, will receive £768,000 to redevelop the Strand, the last remaining art deco picture house in Northern Ireland.

Four More Sites Will Receive Investments

The National Lottery Heritage Fund unveiled four other sites that will receive various sums. These include Palais de Danse in St. Ives, which will open to visitors for the first time in some 65 years thanks to a £2.8 million investment.

Kingsley Hall in Bristol, on the other hand, will secure £4.7 million to renovate the medieval building into a place of opportunity for younger people risking homelessness.

Marchwell Stables in Chichester will get £1.3 million to transform what were once stables into affordable and accessible creative spaces.

Last but not least, the Old Royal High School in Edinburgh will create a new cultural center with learning and career opportunities. The site is set to receive £437,046 from the fund, allowing it to realize this critical project.

Breathing New Life into Historical Sites

The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s CEO, Eilish McGuiness, was thrilled by the opportunity to kick 2025 off with so many investments in key heritage projects across the UK. She explained that this initiative will breathe new life into the sites, repurposing them for the 21st century.

We’ll work with those who care for heritage, transforming historic gems and positively adding to wellbeing and educational opportunities for young people, making heritage the focus of communities, places and the UK economy.

Eilish McGuiness

In other news, recent data showed that Brits spend an average of 11% of their monthly leisure budget on gaming.

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Angel has a passion for all forms of writing, be it fiction or nonfiction. His curious nature gives him an ace up his sleeve when researching a new topic. Angel’s thirst for knowledge, paired with adaptability, always helps him find his way around.

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