12/08/2026

Today, National Justice Museum has announced that they have been awarded a Heritage Fund grant of £249,983 to support a major new project designed to strengthen the organisation and help secure the future of two of Nottingham’s most iconic heritage sites. 

Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project, NJM: Fit For The Future, will run for 24 months and focuses on building organisational capacity, identifying, and developing new income opportunities, strengthening skills, and supporting the long-term care of the National Justice Museum and City of Caves.

As part of the project, two new roles will be created - a Head of Commercial and a Development Manager - bringing additional expertise to the organisation and supporting its ambitious future plans.

Together, the National Justice Museum and City of Caves preserve and share stories spanning hundreds of years, exploring the experiences of the people who lived, worked, and passed through these historic spaces.

At the heart of Nottingham’s Lace Market, the National Justice Museum sits in Nottingham’s former Shire Hall and County Gaol, a Grade II* listed building containing a rare surviving Victorian criminal courtroom, Georgian gaol, and historic cells and dungeons.

Through these spaces, alongside a nationally important collection of more than 40,000 objects, the Museum explores how justice has been administered, experienced and challenged throughout British history. Its collections include objects, documents and stories that reveal changing attitudes towards crime, punishment, policing, rehabilitation, and civil rights, while highlighting the lived experiences of prisoners, police officers, legal professionals, and local communities.

The National Justice Museum also manage the unique heritage attraction the City of Caves, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and the largest publicly accessible part of the sandstone caves in Nottingham. Among its historic spaces is the country's only known underground medieval tannery, providing a fascinating insight into the lives of the people who worked and lived in Nottingham and the wider stories of labour, poverty, and social justice in the city’s history.

By strengthening skills, increasing organisational capacity, and developing new approaches to financial sustainability, NJM: Fit For The Future will help ensure that these irreplaceable buildings, collections, and stories remain accessible to future generations.

Victoria Reeves, Chief Executive of the National Justice Museum, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for this support at such an important time for our organisation and the wider heritage sector. This funding gives us an exciting opportunity to strengthen our organisation, develop new skills and capacity, and plan confidently for the future.

“The National Justice Museum and City of Caves are home to remarkable buildings, collections and stories, and we want to ensure they continue to be enjoyed and explored by as many people as possible for generations to come. This project will help us build on the work we already do and create a strong and sustainable future for these two special places. It is a hugely exciting time for our whole team.”

Liz Bates, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:

“We are pleased to announce our support for the National Justice Museum and City of Caves with an investment of a quarter of a million pounds. This funding, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will help secure the future of these two historic sites in the city of Nottingham, and the nationally significant collections housed within them.”

The National Justice Museum is an independent museum based in Nottingham’s former Shire Hall and County Gaol. The organisation first opened on the site in April 1995 as the Galleries of Justice, before rebranding as the National Justice Museum in 2017.

Through real spaces, real objects, and real stories, they explore the impact that justice and the law have on individuals, communities, and society.

To discover these incredible historic sites for yourself, visit nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk, pay them a visit on High Pavement in Nottingham, or follow the National Justice Museum on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.