We aim to give grants for repairs and restoration work required to prevent loss or damage to historic buildings, their gardens, grounds and any outbuildings located in England. We would normally expect your building to be listed, scheduled, or in the case of a garden included in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens. However, we may also make grants to projects which involve an unlisted building of sufficient historic or architectural significance or importance if it is within a conservation area.

In addition, to qualify for any grant you must be able to show the following:

• There is a compelling need for the work you want to undertake to be done within the next 2 to 3 years.
• The project will enhance our historic environment.
• There will be appropriate public access.
• The project will have a sustainable future.
• There is a financial need for the grant.
• The project can proceed within a reasonable time frame (i.e. 1-2 years).

We aim to make grants for projects which are ready to proceed (i.e. can be started within 1-2 years) but which either do not qualify for funding from any of the mainstream sources or have been awarded only partial funding and require significant further funds to complete the resource package.

We will also consider making grants to effectively "kickstart" a project but will expect your other funding to be completed within 1-2 years.

To see examples of work click here for a copy of the current newsletter. (PDF format, 792Kb.)*

The type of work we do not fund

• Projects which do not have a heritage focus.
• Alterations and improvements.
• Routine maintenance and minor repairs.
• General running costs.
• Demolitions.
• Rent, loan or mortgage payments.
• Buying furniture, fittings and equipment except where they have an historic relationship with the site and are relevant to the project.
• Work carried out before a grant offer has been made in writing and accepted.

* To access and print PDF documents, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader program. This free software is available, along with instructions on installation and use, from Adobe's Web site: http://www.adobe.com/acrobat/readstep.html