PLANS to conserve a unique Winchester attraction have had an initial boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund to kickstart the project.

Whitchurch Silk Mill Trust has been awarded £123,300 from the the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop more detailed plans and prepare a full grant application for its Preserving the Fabric project.

The Grade II* listed Silk Mill will be conserved under the plans, with accessibility improved for visitors. Its historic textile machinery will be restored, enabling the Mill to demonstrate silk making on a daily basis.

Claire Isbester, Chairman of Whitchurch Silk Mill Trust, said, "We're delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support. The 200-year-old building will be conserved under the plans, with access improved for visitors. It's great to know that we are a step closer to preserving the Mill for another two hundred years"

Included in the project will be a refurbished entrance building, welcoming special exhibition and meeting areas, and new displays telling the fascinating story of the Mill, of silk and silk weaving, and of water power. The café and shop will be combined on the banks of the River Test and the grounds will be improved to encourage chalk stream wildlife. The funding will allow also the Mill to employ apprentices, who will be given formal training in heritage skills, and volunteers will be given training so they can help care for the machinery and engage with visitors.

Sue Tapliss, General Manager of Whitchurch Silk Mill, said: "At the moment we have only one weaver who knows how to use all the historic machinery, apprentices will ensure these skills are passed onto the next generation and we can continue weaving into the next century"

The Mill will apply for a second round of HLF funding in 2016 and, if successful, building work is scheduled for 2017 and the new-look Mill will be launched in 2018.

Explaining the importance of the HLF support, Stuart McLeod, Head of HLF South East, said:, "The Preserving the Fabric project plans will enable the team at the Mill to achieve their vision to transform Whitchurch Silk Mill into a self-sustaining, living, industrial heritage site. We're really pleased to be giving them the green light and look forward to seeing the project progress over the coming months."