And my link between Whitchurch Silk Mill and Southampton’s American Story? CPD (continual professional development)!
As a guide, I love that there’s always an excuse to get engrossed in research, to get lost for hours in reading, the ferreting out of fascinating – and often astonishing – information and stories. Going down ‘rabbit holes’ seems to be rather an occupational hazard at times…
I might be researching to curate a visit to a town or village, castle or museum in which I’ve not guided before, or finding details for a tour on a particular theme – such as for the Inspirational Women of Salisbury walk I’m doing on Saturday 21 March at 2pm as part of the city’s support for English Tourism Week 2026.
And engaging in CPD is a major requirement for a guide.
Earlier in the year, I organised a group of guides to visit the 19th Century Whitchurch Silk Mill.
We had the most delightful morning being shown the workings of the mill, weaving silk cloth using historic machinery and traditional skills. They specialise in making shot silk taffetas, twills, and silk ribbons and are in demand for creating costumes for TV period drama – such as the BBC’s Death Comes to Pemberley, and Cranford.
And the link between the silk mill and Southampton’s American story doesn’t end with CPD, because the mill is weaving an authentic replica of the costume worn by George Washington to his first inaugural ball in 1789 – with the original deemed too fragile and faded to go on display – as part of the US’s commemorations for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 1776.
And this week, historian and guide Dr Cheryl Butler took a group of guides on a walk through Southampton, delving into the city’s links with America as part of our research for See Southampton guides to mark the US 250th anniversary.
I was well aware of the major role played by the US in the city during the Second World War, and that the Pilgrim Fathers had left through Southampton on the Mayflower – and the ill-fated Speedwell – bound for America in 1620. But I had no idea of the sheer numbers of other ships leaving through Southampton with emigrants on their way to the US, or the arrival in the city of the native American Pocohontas.
Lots to explore in See Southampton’s heritage walks this year!
Browse Published Articles.
Caroline Wigley 