Art Installation at Whitby Abbey
To celebrate its 30th birthday, The National Lottery is recognising the difference its support offers to individuals and charities.
The celebrations have championed a series of Game Changers – people who have used National Lottery grants to enact real and lasting change in their communities. The Heritage Game Changers, chosen to represent seven transformational, influential and impactful heritage projects, have been recognised with a large-scale artwork at Whitby Abbey.
Artist David Popa's incredible 'Heritage Tree' piece at Whitby highlights the beauty of the Abbey and the landscape. The artwork was unveiled on 1 October 2024 and due to its nature, only lasted for a fortnight. Please take a look at the process of creating it.
Get involved
As part of our celebrations, we have some fantastic opportunities at sites in recent receipt of National Lottery Funding. Take a look below to see what's happening near you and how you can take part.
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Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens: Wartime Discovery Tours
Explore behind the scenes and discover war-related graffiti and artefacts. Piece together the clues to reveal Belsay's war-time history. Two tours each day – 11am and 1.30pm on the following dates: 17 and 20 November. Free to join, pre-booking essential as places are limited. Email: belsay.hall@english-heritage.org.uk to prebook.
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Drop in craft sessions at Dover Castle
On 23 November, visitors to Dover Castle will be able to join free drop-in craft sessions. Please ask at the Box Office when you arrive for more details.
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Richborough Roman Fort Creative Writing Club
On 16 November, the Richborough Roman Fort Creative Writing Club (supported by the Heritage Fund) will be reading their poetry and writing pieces onsite, in the atmospheric setting that inspires their work.
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Walmer Castle Tours
Join the Walmer Castle volunteers for tours celebrating the site's history and gardens. Horticultural Tour: 19 Nov, 10am with the Senior Gardener. Garden History Tour: 20 Nov, 2pm with Volunteers. Tudor History Tour: 21 Nov, 12pm with Volunteers. If you are interested, sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/fivvq9EUGK
Recent and ongoing projects
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Marble Hill revived
The National Lottery has granted English Heritage over £4 million to restore the landscape and facilities across the park and open the Georgian house to visitors for free, five days a week, seven months a year.
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The Once and future fund: safeguarding the future of free sites
The National Lottery has pledged to fund £1 million of an endowment that will secure the future of our 300 free to enter sites – which range from sections of Hadrian’s Wall to working historic windmills – and find new ways to engage wider audiences.
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Rediscovering Walmer Pleasure Grounds
Thanks to a National Lottery grant of over £1.4 million in 2017, visitors of all ages can now enjoy restored gardens, including a Glen that was lost for 100 years, and a new café, while schools are benefitting from a new education space.
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Grime’s Graves: Digging Deeper
Thanks to a £216,581.00 grant, we have reopened this Neolithic flint mine, the only one in the UK open to the public. The funding enabled updated interpretation, improved accessibility, and a community engagement programme.
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Richborough: Gateway to Brittania
Once a vital Roman hub, a £200,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund has meant Richborough's story can now be retold with a new and improved visitor centre, museum, and reconstructed Roman gateway.
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Belsay Awakes
Made possible through a generous £3,00,000 grant, Belsay Awakes saw the site's gardens restored to their glorious best, with major conservation works future-proofing the Hall, and a new accessible and family-friendly offer for all to enjoy.
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Old Hall: New Beginnings
The impressive medieval manor, Gainsborough Old Hall is currently being revitalised thanks to a £222k grant. A new volunteer scheme, schools' programme and onsite activities will restore the Hall to the heart of its community.
Donate today
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You can support English Heritage today by donating to the charity and helping to give the nation's heritage a future.
Plus, our members get more. Join as an English Heritage member and from just £4 a month, and as well as keeping history alive, you'll have unlimited access to more than 400 historic places.
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