Servants in 1912. OF THE COACHING AGE, VOL. Although only her kitchen maid, Daisy, is seen as her regular assistant, there would have been others in a house this size. Sophie McShera as Daisy, Kitchen Maid. One wonders if William will ever achieve that ambition, for times are changing and the aristocracy will be hard pressed to hang onto their lands and houses after the second world war. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Servants: the True Story Of . At nine 0clock, housemaids and valets arrived to draw bedroom curtains and deliver a cup of teac as ordered by the hostess the night before. The End of High Society, The servants quarters. Servants were expected to "know their place". She works with a positive attitude and champions those who need defending. One difference between the Edwardian and Regency great house is that the Regency servants except for footmen were unlikely to wear uniforms. That was very interesting! Its a small number compared to the west, but a much smaller nation. At the turn of the 20th century when the population of Britain was only 36million there were 1.5million servants. However, we do accept and keep books and CDs to review. Service at table, except in the lowest houses employing servants was never performed by female servants. (And anibundel, for posting!). Matt is an alumni of Portland State University with a degree in English and Film Studies. Im only on episode one, but as an African American who majored in history but focused mainly on ancient history and African American history, Im curious about the differences in England. Rose Leslie as Gwen, House Maid. MORE:Downton Abbey star Maggie Smith looks incredible at start of career - see the gorgeous snaps. The once derelict London Lodge, a grand Roman-style archway from 1793, is now a bijou holiday let alongside other spruced-up cottages. Good eye! Answers must be in-depth and comprehensive, or they will be removed. Room, board, and at least some clothing came with the job in addition to the money, right? Yet service allows him to better himself and someday work his way up to the position of butler. Elizabeth McGovern has $4million to her name. I guess I'm just looking for some way to relate my modern understanding of the world to how they were. Alongside his partner Mrs. Hughes, Carson becomes an even sweeter and softer version of his obstinate self. Every British tourist attraction sells little guidebooks published by the Pitkin company. At all other times they were expected to remain invisible as they worked around the house, using the servants stairs and working in a room when the family was not expected to use it. They run about 30 pages and are packed with information. Housemaids would tread silently up the servant (back) stairs unseen and unheard with fresh water and carrying covered slop pails. January 11, 2016 7: . Servants were not allowed to marry of have children of their own. Archived post. Now I will feel so much more in tune with whats going on in it. Sadly, falling in love with your employer's daughter isn't a great resume builder. Any resources you can refer that go beyond simple explanations but really examine this in-depth? Express. Our image of this. Is there a cafe at Highclere Castle? Dan Stevens left the show to pursue other roles, MORE:Dan Stevens reveals the real reason he left Downton Abbey. How much did British servants make? Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. I believe that your desire for a portrayal of the economic reality of Downton Abbey is running smack against the economic reality of 21st century television. The Second Footman: (Thomas Howes) Williams position among the upper servants is low, for he must answer to the butler, housekeeper, and first footman. When her secret is uncovered the other servants are astounded how could anyone prefer working in as some faceless office over service in a great house? Again, OBrien is way overworked if she is doing this for four ladies. The First Footman: Thomas (Rob James-Collier) is a piece of work. Thomas, as a second footman, would have earned an annual salary $37,379.37 (in 2014 dollars). We often see servants in the background, coming and going, whose names and positions we dont know. Alongside her eventual husband Mr. Carson, Mrs. Hughes was dedicated to running as strong a household staff as possible. "The day would consist of doing breakfast maybe around 7 a.m., followed by elevenses, an 11 a.m. cocktail and biscuit, a 12:30 p.m. pre-lunch drink, lunch at 1 p.m. followed by coffee, then. Just like Lark Rise to Candleford, which I must admit, is a much better show. How much did the 'Downton Abbey'-era upper class rely on servants? In the big country houses or the great London mansions servants were crammed into shared bedrooms and beds with no bathroom or lavatory facilities. The hierarchy among the servants was strictly defined. In 1837, James Brown opened Browns Hotel with his savings. But at the real Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle a stately pile owned by George Geordie Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon the financial outlook has rarely been brighter. Drops Season 6 Trailer, Skating Highlights of the Week: Europeans and U.S. Nationals. Every single day, dont take anything for granted, said Lady Carnarvon. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Luckily, he was far kinder and more capable than his aunt ever was. He did his duties and rarely allowed for personal problems to overshadow his work. Mrs. Hughes was a friend to all of her staff, but she never allowed herself to be manipulated by her sympathies. Unlike their poorly paid counterparts, servants were housed and fed by their masters. Did servants get paid? Servants who married often left, though the employer could find a position for the spouse within the establishment if they wanted to keep the servant. Never call from one room to another and always answer when you have received an order. It has allowed us to spend faster on the buildings, have the follies restored.. A chauffeur not only drove the family around, but he was also its mechanic, keeping the car in top shape, acquiring parts when they were needed, and making sure there was enough petrol on hand to satisfy the familys needs. I think Sarah retired from work to raise her family and only returned to domestic service when they were on their own. In some instances, links will be removed from comments as well. In addition to the main house, servants worked in the service buildings, such as the stables, garage, dairy, bakehouse, laundry, gun room, and pantry. How much did domestic servants get paid? No one at the time could have predicted that a fussy mini-series airing on PBS in this country would become a viral hit, but "Downton" soon became that rarest of things: A universal reference point. Mrs. Patmore is one of the most skilled cooks that the series ever confronts. Its a big house after all. Each table cloth would be washed, starched and ironed after each use. Photograph: Nick Briggs/ITV. Downton. A kind and observant woman, Mrs. Hughes nevertheless keeps her female team in line. Upon rising, servants would labor first and eat only after the family had risen, dressed, and breakfasted. Servants found new work in registry offices, where they would enter their name in the registry book, or through word of mouth. Gareth Neame, the series executive producer, said: I think Downton Abbey secured Highcleres future., Peter Fincham, ITVs director of television, recalls the moment when Highclere was booked. Wodehouses works. The Crawleys Manchester house was well furnished (what we saw of it) and fashionably furnished, so they redecorated within the last 5/10 years, they still had all their tea sets and china and silver. A maid in England prepares afternoon tea in 1927. . Marvelous Mrs Maisel: will Lenny Bruces death be depicted in season 5? 2-3 Chambermaids These maids work solely on the bedroom floor and in contact with the family (because of the bedrooms. Answers must be in-depth and comprehensive, or they will be removed. Rob James-Collier as Thomas, First Footman.Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. What happened to servants when they got too old to work? Her total earningsare estimated to be around the $2million mark. While employers would prefer servants to be married than to engage in out of wedlock sex, most employers wouldnt have a pregnant woman or children around. In Edwardian times going into service was frequently the only alternative to near starvation. As the driver, he took all of the family to and from the main house and around the countryside. Alfred was rarely at the forefront of proceedings, which makes him one of the best employees at Downtown. The only time that the servants might be visible to family or guests was when they cleaned and polished the main halls and stairway. The Cook: Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore, the cook, is hiding a secret, one that threatens her very livelihood. Carson leads the whole staff into battle every day at Downton and is constantly putting out fires. The castle has been one enormous character as well.. Jim Carter plays butler to the Crawley family, Carson. For a long time. During the Regency, both footmen and livery were taxed which added nto the expense of keeping footmen. Cook - Check Undercook or 1st kitchenmaid - check, but the first kitchen maid is responsible for cooking the servants' meals, not the cook, and there should be more than one kitchen maid. They had the ability to save a large portion of their salaries, or send money to support their families back home. Write us at. Originally airing from 2010 to 2015, the show made household names - and now movie stars - out of its cast. Highly informative, while at the same time completely avoiding the fetish known as hat worship. Valets often received lavish gifts, including the masters hand-me-down clothing which they could either wear or sell. A newspaper reports that leading actors including Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern have been given three-year deals worth 1million each. Alfred wasnephew to the villainous Mrs. O'Brien. MORE:Where are the cast of Downton Abbey now? The Housekeeper: Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes is Mr. Carsons counterpart. At this point in history, upper class people changed their clothes several times a day (4 or more) resulting in huge amounts of laundry. How much was Cora's dowry? Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. :). Some years ago, I had tea there. Invisibility and segregation were part of their job. Does Highclere Castle rent rooms? Mrs. Patmore was the lead cook at Downtown throughout the entire series, serving as a teacher to Daisy and feeding all the family and servants. Back of the house. We saw some gamekeepers in the shooting episode in which Mary was accompanied by Sir Richard. Many valets did very well for themselves. Downton Abbey: How much did Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith and more make during the show? I looked up wage information, and found that a common yearly salary for a Butler like Carson would be roughly 55-70 (several sources - The Victorian Domestic Servant Hierarchy and Wage Scale and Mrs. Beeton's Household Management). Middle class families . Who owns the house in Downton Abbey? Ive been looking forward to its broadcast Sunday. Despite the awful wages and conditions competition for places was fierce. This meant that the food often arrived at the dining table cold or, at best, lukewarm. In smaller, middle-class homes in the cities servants were pushed into attics and dank basements to keep them apart from the family. Any maid found fraternising with a member of the opposite sex will be dismissed without a hearing. Ha! ), I love this post. What kind of purchasing power did they have? Wed come home and have to talk about whatever episode we just watched, etc. In addition to his managerial duties, he is shown in several scenes either polishing the silver or pouring over the books and counting the bottles of wine. Do public servants get paid well? Captain Button, as far as I understand it: Room, board and I think work-appropriate clothing (uniform, etc) came with the job along with salary. Its the first TV period drama that has really leaped out of the screen and become part of popular culture., Lady Carnarvon is still keen to emphasise that the long-term future of Highclere is not necessarily secure. While she was constantly working hard in her position, her past became an ultimate roadblock. Now Ive never seen a tweeny, but there seem to be about two hallboys/odd job men. Join me next time for more explorations into the art and history of Europe, including the British Isles. Quite a few went on to work in inns or hotels. Servants worked 17-hour days with time off limited to church on Sunday morning and one afternoon a week. The Chauffeur: Allen Leech asTom Branson, the chaffeur, demonstrates how very different Edwardian England is from Regency England. Although Downton Abbey follows only 11 of the upper servants closely, one can see other servants (housemaids, a scullery maid, young boys, coal men, and the like) in the background going about their business. Any breakages or damage to the house will be deducted from wages. I was under. Never begin to talk to ladies and gentlemen. Tatton Park, Baron Egerton's home in Knutsford, Cheshire, had some 40 indoor servants in the 1890s, while at Eaton Hall near Chester the Duke of Westminster employed 300 indoor and outdoor servants, among them more than 40 gardeners. Cookie Notice If a pretty maid attracted her roving master's eye she had little choice but to accept her fate. So true, I believe they had well over 20 servants, you tend to see them in the background carrying sheets and other household items, and they did have a land agent prior to Mathew, he resigned over a disagreement with Lord G, and him following Mathews advice, the land agent actually took over for his father and grew up on the estate. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE.