Image: The National Centre for Civil War Learning

Plans for a National Centre for Civil War Learning and a cultural/heritage hub in Newark is one of three projects to receive a share of £5.6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Newark and Sherwood District Council has been handed £3.4m towards the transformation of the Grade II*-listed Old Magnus Buildings, which will house the new visitor facilities.

Once complete, the National Centre for Civil War Learning will house collections featuring 70,000 items of local, national and international significance from the English Civil War.

Meanwhile, Northumberland's Hexham Abbey has received £1.8m towards the acquisition and conservation of the Grade I-listed Carnaby building, before giving it a new lease of life.

The site will allow Heritage Abbey Heritage Group to run a programme of visitor activities, while enabling the full interpretation of the Abbey's collections for the first time.

The third project to receive funding - worth £364,000 - is the John Muir Award in England, which is an educational scheme designed to encourage people to connect with wild places.

In addition to the three recipients of confirmed funding, eight projects have been given initial support - including the restoration of Pontefract Castle as a new visitor and learning facility.

The redevelopment of London's Hornsey Town Hall into a new arts and cultural centre and expansion of The Garden Museum - also in London - have also received initial support.

HLF chair Dame Jenny Abramsky said: "We know that projects like the ones benefiting from this Heritage Lottery Fund support are often the driving force for wider heritage-led regeneration schemes and can in turn help attract further investment."

Details: www.hlf.org.uk