WHITCHURCH Silk Mill, the country's only operational mill of its kind, is hosting two student interns supported by the Basingstoke Deane Rotary.

The mill, best known for silk production for brands such as Burberry and the legal profession, began in 1813 and was transformed into a working museum in 1990.

Managed by the Whitchurch Silk Mill Trust, it keeps silk weaving traditions alive using original machinery.

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The mill offers £500 bursaries for six-week heritage skills internships each summer, funded by Basingstoke Deane Rotary.

This year’s heritage weaving intern is Chloe Mortiboys, a recent textile design graduate from Falmouth University, alongside visitor experience intern Elsbeth French, an art history and curating student at York University.

Both are currently working on a project called 'Jane Austen Ribbons', a creative partnership between Whitchurch Silk Mill and Jane Austen’s House.