Just last month, staff at the Museum of East Anglian Life (Meal) were celebrating after being awarded £1.771 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The money is part of a £2.6 million project to restore its Grade II listed Abbot's Hall, walled garden, stables, conservatory, and two workers' cottages.

But now the museum has been told it needs to raise an extra £830,000 by February 2009 to secure the HLF money.

Tony Butler, museum director, said: "After a four-year build-up and a huge amount of hard work, the HLF has granted us £1.771 million on the condition that we raise the balance. We are half way there already. However, if we fail to reach our target the grant could be lost."

Now the museum's trustees have decided to launch the Meal Appeal to raise donations.

Michael Argent, chairman of the trustees, said: "It is a big challenge but we have a very active group of trustees and Friends of Meal. The support of the HLF has been a massive boost and we're determined not to lose that financial backing, which will help us to make major steps forward."

Under the 10-year regeneration plans, Abbot's Hall would be restored to accommodate themed display galleries as well as function rooms for civic and public events.

The Victorian stables would be refurbished and the hall's distinctive walled-garden would be recreated to run as a production area for the museum's social enterprise programme.

The two cottages in Crowe Street, occupied until the 1970s by staff employed at the hall, would be restored to house the Wilding Collection – named after the hall's former housekeeper.

It includes furniture, ornaments and soft furnishings offering a contrast to the items that would be on display in the hall itself.

Mr Argent said: "Meal is at a developmental crossroads and we have the opportunity to move this small and independent museum forward to fulfil an important role in the preservation of our heritage. We are set to press on with raising the match-funding and drafting the detailed application to secure the full grant."

The Meal Appeal will be officially launched on May 16 in Abbot's Hall.

Museum website: http://www.eastanglianlife.org.uk/