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English Heritage Grants

By: Kevin Watson MSc - Updated: 3 Jun 2023 | comments*Discuss
 
English Heritage Grants Historic

English Heritage has a major influence on cultural life. Each year, it awards £30 million towards the restoration and upkeep of historic buildings, monuments and designed landscapes. Furthermore, these symbols of English tradition attract an annual 11 million visitors.

Source of Funding

700,000 members support English Heritage. Each member pays a yearly subscription. Most of the organisation’s funds, however, come from private donations, commercial ventures and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Grant Criteria

The priorities of English Heritage are historic environments that are at significant risk, and proposals that improve the management of England’s historic environment. An application for a grant must first meet these national criteria. It then has to match secondary priorities. A grant proposal must:

  • Show a financial need for restoration and upkeep
  • Demonstrate that the historic building or site has a long-term future
  • Show that the historic building or site needs restoration work within two years

Applications should also convince English Heritage that other benefits are likely to come from a grant award. These benefits include the development of skills and training; educational and social advantages; partnership working with other fund providers; availability of the building or site to visitors; improvements to the local economy. If a proposal passes these tests, it must meet regional funding priorities. There are nine such regions. Interested grant applicants should contact English Heritage for the priorities that apply to their proposals.

Within the East Midlands region, for example, the priorities are grant applications that refer to structures registered as at risk; structures or landscapes that may be able to play a part in regional and local strategies; schemes for managing conservation projects. Finally, any grant application that meets all national and regional priorities should fall into one of the categories given below.

1. Grants for War Memorials

English Heritage works with the Wolfson Foundation and the War Memorials Trust to provide grants for the repair and upkeep of war memorials. Anyone interested in applying for funds should speak first to the War Memorials Trust.

2. Historic Buildings, Designed Landscapes and Monuments Grants

England has many historic monuments, buildings and designed landscapes. The maintenance costs of these can be huge. English Heritage grants are available for urgent repairs and conservation work. Grants can also pay for the commissioning of professional reports that outline any repairs and management that a building, monument or landscape may need.

3. Grants for Local Authorities

Local Authorities can apply to English Heritage for grants that improve, protect and control their historic environments. Grants can cover all or some of the costs of repairs; help to buy historic buildings and designed landscapes; and fund relevant heritage jobs.

4. Grants for Repairs to Places of Worship

Any faith group can apply for a grant to assist towards the repair of places of worship. Such places must be listed buildings. Demand for these grants is high. The types of urgent repair that may qualify include repairs to spires, roofs and guttering.

5. National Capacity Building Grants

National Capacity Building refers to projects that champion the conservation of the historic environment and the public’s use of it. Projects must meet at least one of the following goals:

  • Provide support to organisations that are obliged in law to look after the historic environment
  • Encourage and publicise best practice policies that manage, conserve, interpret and document the historic environment
  • Stimulate the interest of local communities in their historic environments

6. Regional Capacity Building Grants

The goals of the Regional Capacity Programme are similar to those of the National Capacity scheme. The main difference is that projects should provide information about a region’s specific historic environment.

7. Management Agreements

England has monuments in cities, towns, villages and fields. Some, such as burial mounds and earthworks, date back thousands of years.

English Heritage management agreements are for the owners and tenants of land on which monuments stand. An agreement applies for either three or five years. Under its terms, a landlord or tenant can receive financial help with repairs and upkeep.

8. National Heritage Protection Commissions Programme

This grants scheme gives money for assessing, researching, surveying and developing historic structures and landscapes. It can also fund archaeological projects. Universities, charities, companies and local authorities may apply. Individuals who are interested in such grants must be self-employed.

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We have a very old granary that is in that needs repairing and a barn that was once a feed store are there any grants to help please Kind regards Mary
Mar - 3-Jun-23 @ 10:07 AM
Hi, I am the owner of a cottage in Sussex which has certain parts under a grade two listing. I have asked the conservation officer for help, who to be honest, hasn’t really been helpful at all. It has now come to the point where I have mould growing on the inside of the house which has never happened before. The windows especially have become rotten and mouldy allowing lots of drafts and moisture into the home. Because these windows are protected I cant afford to replace them with timber. Upvc are available but I am not allowed to use this material. Can English heritage please help to contribute to the cost of this. I can’t keep affording the upkeep of this and keep spending planning application fee over and over again to keep being refused. My email address if on this form and I would really appreciate some help.
Miguel - 12-Feb-23 @ 12:44 PM
Hi This article is incorrect.Since 2015 Historic England is the body that gives the grants described in the article.
Heritage expert - 3-Feb-23 @ 11:17 AM
Dear Sir/Madam, I am the proprietor of a beautiful grade 2 listed Freehold pub in Fingringhoe. I have owned the property for 19 years in which I have ploughed everything I earn and own into. My roof desperatelyrequires attention and I am struggling to afford the costs to sympathetically restore. The pub is now the only one in the village and without it the soul would be ripped out of the village. I am needing to re roof and as it is grade 2 the costs are daunting. During my time here I have replaced windows, chimney stacks, recovered flooring, inglenooks and much more. Is there any grant available to assist in this financially challenging climate? I appreciate your assistance and advise in this matter. Kind regards Victoria
Victoria - 10-Oct-22 @ 10:01 PM
Dear Sir/Madam, I am the proprietor of a beautiful grade 2 listed Freehold pub in Fingringhoe. I have owned the property for 19 years in which I have ploughed everything I earn and own into. My roof desperatelyrequires attention and I am struggling to afford the costs to sympathetically restore. The pub is now the only one in the village and without it the soul would be ripped out of the village. I am needing to re roof and as it is grade 2 the costs are daunting. During my time here I have replaced windows, chimney stacks, recovered flooring, inglenooks and much more. Is there any grant available to assist in this financially challenging climate? I appreciate your assistance in this matter. Kind regards Victoria
Victoria - 10-Oct-22 @ 9:58 PM
Dear Sir/Madam, I am the proprietor of a beautiful grade 2 listed Freehold pub in Fingringhoe. I have owned the property for 19 years in which I have ploughed everything I earn and own into. My roof desperatelyrequires attention and I am struggling to afford the costs to sympathetically restore. The pub is now the only one in the village and without it the soul would be ripped out of the village. I am needing to re roof and as it is grade 2 the costs are daunting. During my time here I have replaced windows, chimney stacks, recovered flooring, inglenooks and much more. Is there any grant available to assist in this financially challenging climate? I appreciate your advise.
Victoria - 10-Oct-22 @ 9:52 PM
Sadly I'm struggling to save the money to get my thatch done, it's a grade 2 listed property.can I get help with the cost.
Tonka - 6-Jun-22 @ 7:19 PM
Hi, we are purchasing a grade 2 listed cottage in Suffolk. The that’s appears to be in pretty bad condition. Are there grants available to help with the repair costs? Kind regards
Neil - 12-May-21 @ 7:35 AM
I have purchased a Historical listed grade 2 listed thatched terris cottage which thatch has come to end life am l eligible for a grant . Dianne
Di - 9-Nov-20 @ 3:06 AM
Does anyone answer the queries here? I am hoping to start a project (grade11) and would like some unbiased, genuine advice from a knowledgeable, person. Any advice? Thanks
Nick - 18-Sep-20 @ 2:04 AM
Can I get help from somewhere to help pay for a re thatch on a small grade 1 listed cottage?
Babz - 17-Sep-20 @ 5:22 PM
Can I get any help with paying for a re thatch on a small grade 1 listed cottage ?NOT
Babz - 17-Sep-20 @ 5:19 PM
Hi We have designed a course targeting getting people from all backgrounds into Restoration. We have identified a community asset build for our students to get experience working on a live restoration site whilst undertaking their training. The building is The Art House on Lewisham Way London. The site was previously donated to the local authority by the Carnegie Trust. We are looking for ways to help fund our program to continue to restore our local heritage and much needed experience for our students.
Sean - 8-Jul-20 @ 7:41 AM
We are in the process of buying a 1 bed property in a conservation area. it is the gable end of the first school in the area(early 19th centuary), which has some nice sandstone detail but has been painted over and flaking off, rather than repaint are there any grants to restore back to it's original look?
Tony - 5-Jul-20 @ 4:05 PM
We have a grade two listed church and presertry which is in need of some desperate restoration we have just celebrated our 150 years is it possible to apply for a grant
Mick - 8-Jun-20 @ 8:33 PM
We are currently refurbishing a grade 2 listed barn dated around 1750 ish are any grants available for any of the work, we will be living in the barn, it cannot be sold separately or let, would welcome any advice many thanks
Ru1047 - 3-Jun-20 @ 4:30 PM
Our church has recently acquired a grade 11 listed building previously used as retail premises. We are renovating it to use for worship services. The building requires a certain type of window due to its listed building status. Would we be able to apply for a grant.
Rachel - 28-May-20 @ 2:24 PM
Good morning, I have a grade 2 listed pub and the windows need replacing as it rains in and cold. I’ve spoke to the council and need replacing the same which will cost a fortune, is there any way or where I can get grants? Many thanks If you need to contact me my number is 07738534796 Thanks again Best regards Banny
Banny - 12-May-20 @ 8:54 AM
Hi, I own a grade 2 listed building with a large thatch, I am advised that the thatch will shortly need replacing.Please could you advise as to who I might apply to secure funding to assist in completing the project.Thank you.
Ric - 21-Apr-20 @ 4:18 PM
Hi We are looking to convert a barn into an annex or holiday let, the barn at the minute is deteriorating and the roof slates are stating to fall off so we need to take action very soon. We have applied for planning and hopefully will be passed very soon. Is this project something we could get a grant on or is there anything to help fund such project, and how do we go about this. Many thanks Simon
Simon - 18-Feb-20 @ 6:41 PM
I live in grade 2 listed building farm house windows are rotten and glazing is only 24 one glazed o am 78 years old and have no funds to put them right is there any funds Grants I can get house very cold thanks martin 07720468213 fellgate farm house Newcastle road west boldon ne36 obe
Ne36 0be - 23-Oct-19 @ 4:39 PM
How do we ,Bolsover castle bowling club apply for a grant toward the upkeep of the bowling green that is situated inside the castle grounds
Sykes - 19-Sep-19 @ 9:01 PM
Looking into getting a grant towards the maintainance cost of the bowling green within the walls of Bolsover castle
Sykes - 18-Sep-19 @ 3:54 PM
Looking into getting a grant towards maintainance costs at Bolsover Castle bowling green
Sykes - 6-Sep-19 @ 9:25 AM
Question: Is an English Heritage Grant available to an organization located outside of the UK?I am with St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Casablanca, Morocco.Our Chapel building was built in 1906 and has been designated as a Category A Historical Heritage site (the highest designation possible) by the Moroccan government and I believe also by the UN.We have a refurbishment project underway at this time with a total budget of 390,000 GBPs.We have already raised 325,000 GBPs and are still 65,000 GBPs lacking. This is something that the English Heritage Grant can be used to assist with?St. John's has had many distinguished visitors over the years including Prince Charles.The American General, George Patton, and numerous American and British soldiers worshiped here during WWII.Please send me an email at the above address with your reply.Thank you very much!
JMP - 10-Aug-19 @ 4:43 PM
Hi, I work for a local authority in England and have just inspected 2 cottages and outbuilding that are all Grade 2 listed. All our budgets are being cut more every year, are there any suggestions where funding can be found for re-thatching these stunning properties please?
Adaervon - 26-Jul-19 @ 9:40 PM
Hi. I own two flats within a grade 2* listed building. There is currently no free holder he went missing some 25 years ago meaning nobody is looking after the fabric of the building. Currently the bay on the one side of the building is falling off making the building unsafe. The Shropshire council are saying there is no funding for this. Even though the building is on of the finest in Wem. With out urgent help the building will become derelict. The Building is park house in Wem currently on the at risk registrar. Kind Regards John
Wolves - 2-Apr-19 @ 1:53 PM
Hi, My wife and i have just bought grade 2 listed building at auction, Bank Hall Farm Broughton. The house is currently uninhabitable due to disrepair. I am new to all this and was wondering if there are any grants that would be available to us or any people you would suggest to contact. Thanks for any assistance Chris
chris - 18-Dec-18 @ 6:32 AM
Hi if local council owns a grade ll listed property that is being left in a state of disrepair how I so I go about complaining? It is pointless complaining to the council itself as will get no where but are there organisations covering rules/regulations about enforcing maintainence /repairs that I can contact ?
sttudy - 15-Oct-18 @ 6:16 PM
I work in a museum, with part of the building dating back to 1860 with a lot of the original features still intact. We are funded by the local authority and facing closure. Do you think we would be able to obtain a grant to assist us in improving what we already have? Many thanks
Deebug71 - 6-Sep-18 @ 7:00 PM
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