A treasured historic house in Highgate has won a lottery grant of £800,000 to transform parts of the Grade II listed property and secure its long term financial future.

Staff and volunteers at Lauderdale House, in Waterlow Park, are celebrating after winning the Heritage Lottery Fund grant, which was announced on Tuesday.

Sue Bowers, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for London, said: “Lauderdale House is now well on its way to being transformed and we are delighted to support this project.

“As a rare survivor with Tudor origins the house is of national importance and well loved by the community. Once works are complete they’ll be able enjoy it once more and for future generations.”

Lauderdale House Society, which runs the house, is now two thirds of the way towards raising the £1.8million it needs to embark on its ambitious Lauderdale Transformed project.

The major redevelopment will overhaul run-down areas of the house to create modern facilities – including a state-of-the-art glass-fronted workshop with views across Waterlow Park.

Camden Council has given £350,000 and along with a grant of £48,000 from BIFFA Award and other fundraising of £15,000, the fundraising tally stands at just over £1.2million.

But community help is needed to reach the final hurdle and get the £1.8million so work can begin.

Director Katherine Ives said: “We’re not there yet. We still need another £600,000 before we can start the work. This seems daunting, but just over a year ago we had just under £10,000 for the project and are now two thirds of the way to success.

“We are applying to trusts and foundations but we also need the support of our local community to make this happen.

“Every donation will help us, whether it’s a cheque with several noughts or the contents of someone’s penny jar.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to “transform” our historic house and programme, ensuring our future and transforming the experience of every visitor.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund grant is the culmination of more than five years of hard work by staff and volunteers.

Some 1,500 hours of volunteer time have so far been spent to transform the Grade II listed house, which has been a landmark on Highgate’s skyline since Elizabethan times and is now a thriving arts and education centre welcoming thousands of visitors a year.

Nick Peacey, chairman of Lauderdale House, said: “This is the opportunity to complete the total transformation we have worked for since I became involved with Lauderdale House when it was a burnt out shell 35 years ago.

“It can guarantee the house’s future as a resource for the community and preserve and celebrate the history of this unique building.”

For more information on the project or to donate, visit www.lauderdalehouse.co.uk