The deadlines for the 2025 Association for Industrial Archaeology grants and awards are fast approaching (31 January and 31 March 2025), but there is still time to consider applying for a restoration or research grant, or nominating a book or thesis for an award.
Recent winners have included Wayne Cocroft and Paul Stamper for their book Legacies of the First World War: Building for total war 1914-1918, published by Historic England, which won the 2020 Peter Neaverson Award for Outstanding Scholarship, whilst research grants were awarded to help restore Marple Lime Kilns in 2022 and explore the wheel pit at Eardington Lower Forge in 2024.
2024 saw a record number of applications for the Association’s restoration grants. The Major Project Grants were awarded for the restoration of boiler No 1 to fully working condition at Claymills Pumping Engine House in Staffordshire; for the repair and re-erection of wooden headframe at King Edward Mine Museum, Cornwall; the restoration of the stone tower of Heage Windmill, Belper; the restoration and re-erection of 1875 passenger footbridge at the Yorkshire Dales Railway, Bolton Abbey; the repair by the Cotswold Canal Trust of an original 18th century occupation Bridge on Stroudwater Canal; and for repairs to Engine House Building at the Lancashire Mining Museum, Astley Green.
A Small Project Grant was also awarded for the restoration of the rare 1874 oat roller and bucket grain elevator to working order at the Warwick Bridge Corn Mill, Cubria. The £161,000 offered in 2024 year brings the total value of the grants offered since the AIA restroation grants scheme started in 2009 to some £1.5m – all thanks to the generosity of AIA’s anonymous donors.
Follow these links for details of the grants and awards being offered by the AIA in 2025 and to download an application form:
Industrial Heritage Support 