The lower orders have a great deal of money – more than they ever had before. The landowners are those who suffer as their rents remain the same – taxes enormously increased and very much higher wages have to be paid to servants on account of competition of public bodies, county councils, parish councils etc., who are most extravagant in the wages they give – not having to pay them themselves.
But it was the outbreak of the First World War which really sounded the death knell for domestic service, at least to the extent it had flourished before. Many of the younger male servants enlisted while the women found themselves jobs filling the vacancies left by men fighting abroad. Throughout the UK, 400, 000 people left service and the government and press urged employers to let their staff go. Country Life magazine ran an article in January 1915 which asked ‘Have you a Butler, Groom, Chauffeur, Gardener or Gamekeeper serving you who, at this moment, should be serving your king and country? Have you a man preserving your game who should be preserving your country?’
On their return from the front, fewer men were prepared to enter the life of servitude that the ‘lower orders’ had once seen as a privilege. In his memoir From Hallboy to House Steward, Willam Lanceley commented that the war work many were asked to do ‘was a novelty to them, the pay was big and they had short hours, hundreds being spoilt for service through it. It made those who returned to service unsettled.’
In 1919, the Women’s Advisory Council presented a report on the ‘Domestic Service Problem’ to Parliament, which concluded that ‘there is amongst girls a growing distaste for domestic service under its present conditions, and a reluctance on the part of parents to allow them to take up such work’. The report suggested proper training and the creation of ‘clubs’ that would lead to the formation of trade unions, an idea that even some of its own members found unpalatable. The Marchioness of Londonderry refused to sign the section because, she felt, ‘any possibility of the introduction into the conditions of domestic service of the type of relations now obtainable between employers and workers in industrial life is extremely undesirable and liable to react in a disastrous manner on the whole foundation of home life’. Others believed the recommendations didn’t go far enough because, while they called for reduced hours, fixed breaks for meals and two weeks’ paid annual leave, hours and wages would not be enshrined in law.
Historically, mistresses disliked being told how to treat their servants but committee member Dr Marion Philips argued, ‘I believe that the reason why it is difficult to get servants today is not lack of training, but because servants are dissatisfied with the wages and hours of work. They are also dissatisfied with many matters which may roughly be classified as questions of social status.’
From 1920, the government attempted to coax young women back into domestic service by running home craft courses, with the condition the pupil would then become a servant, and even offering to pay for the uniforms required to enter a first position. But a life of servitude no longer held any appeal to the majority of women and the days when life below stairs provided the only way out of crushing poverty were for ever gone.
Sources and
Bibliography
Max Arthur, Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 1901–1910 in Their Own Words (Harper Collins, 2007)
Jane Beckett and Deborah Cherry (ed.), Edwardian Era (Phaidon Press, 1987)
Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management (Oxford, 1861)
Frank Victor Dawes, Not in Front of the Servants: A True Portrait of Upstairs, Downstairs Life (Pimlico, 1989)
The Footman’s Directory and Butler’s Remembrancer (Pryor Publications, 1823)
Jessica Gerard, Country House Life: Family and Servants, 1815–1914 (Wiley-Blackwell, 1995)
Gareth Griffiths and Samuel Mullins, Cap and Apron: Oral History of Domestic Service in the Shires, 1890–1950 (Leicestershire Museums, Arts & Records Service, 1986)
Hints to Domestic Servants, by a Butler in a Gentleman’s Family (1854)
Pamela Horn, Life Below Stairs in the Twentieth Century (Sutton Publishing, 2003)
Frank E. Huggett, Life Below Stairs (John Murray, 1977)
Helen Long, The Edwardian House (Manchester University Press, 1993)
Manners of Modern Society (Cassell, Petter and Galpin)
Janet McKenzie Hill, A Guide To Edwardian Servants (1922)
Charles Morris, The Home Cyclopedia Of Cooking And Housekeeping (W.E. Scull, 1902)
Jeremy Musson, Up and Down Stairs: The History of the Country House Servant (John Murray, 2009)
Margaret Powell, Below Stairs (Peter Davies, 1968)
Pamela Sambrook, Keeping Their Place: Domestic Service in the Country House (The History Press Ltd, 2007)
Noel Streatfeild (ed.), The Day Before Yesterday: Firsthand Stories of 50 Years Ago (Collins, 1956)
Albert Thomas, The Autobiography of Albert Thomas, Butler at Brasenose College, Oxford (Michael Joseph, 1944)
Laura Wilson, Daily Life in a Victorian House (Puffin, 1998)
Websites
www.ourwardfamily.com
www.alexanderpalace.org
www.accidentalsmallholder.net
www.pbs.org/wnet/1900house
www.hinchhouse.org.uk
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
www.brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk
Picture
Acknowledgements
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Mary Evans Picture Library
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H M Brock/Mary Evans Picture Library
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From ‘A History of The Gothic Revival’ by Charles L. Eastlake (1872)
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© 2011 Clipart.com
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© Illustrated London News/Mary Evans Picture Library
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© Gary Doak/Alamy
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Mary Evans Picture Library
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www.historyworld.co.uk
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© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Pagelink
The Advertising Archives
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The Advertising Archives
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© Illustrated London News
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Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Pagelink
Mary Evans Picture Library
Index
A
Andrews, George ref 1
appliances, domestic ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5
Aqualate Hall, Staffordshire ref 1
Arthur, Max ref 1
Asquith, Lady Cynthia ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5
Astor, Lady ref 1
attic rooms ref 1
B
balls and parties
society ref 1, ref 2
staff ref 1, ref 2
see also dinner parties
Barrie, J. M. ref 1
basement rooms see kitchens; servants’ hall; staff quarters
Bath, 6th Marquess of ref 1, ref 2
bathing and washing
family members and guests ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6
staff facilities ref 1, ref 2
beauty products ref 1, ref 2
Bedford, Duke and Duchess of ref 1
beer allowances ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
Beeton, Mrs ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9
bells, servants’ ref 1, ref 2
‘between-stairs-maids’ ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
see also maids
blacking hearths ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
Bonham Carter, Lady Charlotte ref 1
Booth, Charles ref 1
Brasenose College, Oxford ref 1
Brown, Harriet ref 1
Brown, James and Sarah ref 1
Brown, Kate ref 1
Bruce, Alastair ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
Bullock, Mary Ann ref 1
butlers ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 1
1, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16, ref 17, ref 18, ref 19, ref 20, ref 21, ref 22, ref 23, ref 24, ref 25, ref 26, ref 27, ref 28, ref 29, ref 30, ref 31, ref 32, ref 33
Byron, Lord ref 1
C
Campbell Chorley, Katherine ref 1
candles ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
carriages, horse-drawn ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
cars ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4
Cassell’s Household Guide ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8
chambermaids ref 1 , ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6
see also maids
character references ref 1, ref 2
chauffeurs ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
children ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5
of the family ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9
nannies and nursemaids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6
young staff ref 1, ref 2 , ref 3, ref 4, ref 5
church and chapel see religious practice
cinemas and music halls ref 1
cleaning and laundry ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8
see also maids; silverware
clothes ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11
livery ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
senior staff ref 1
uniforms ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4
see also lady’s maids
coachmen ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4
codes of conduct
addressing servants ref 1
followers ref 1
punishments ref 1
regards the family ref 1
use of religion ref 1
Cook, Jean, Sally and Gill ref 1, ref 2
cooks and chefs ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16, ref 17, ref 18, ref 19, ref 20
see also dinner parties
Cooper, Charles ref 1
Country Life magazine ref 1
Cullwick, Hannah ref 1, ref 2
cutlery see silverware
D
debutantes ref 1
dining (general) ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16
dinner parties ref 1
after dinner ref 1
guests ref 1
invitations ref 1, ref 2
menus and recipes ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
serving etiquette ref 1
table settings ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
waiters ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
disciplining staff ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7
dismissals ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7
domestic appliances ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5
d’Orléans, Duc ref 1
Dowhill, Lady Lindsay of ref 1
Du Caurroy, Mary ref 1
E
Eaton Hall, Cheshire ref 1
Edgerton, Connie ref 1
education ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
Edward VII, King ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4
Edwards, Mrs G. ref 1, ref 2
electricity and gas supplies ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
employment agencies ref 1
entertainment ref 1
see also dinner parties; holidays/ days off; Season
etiquette ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4
Every Woman’s Encyclopedia ref 1
F
families and friends of servants ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6
Featherstonhaugh, Sir Harry ref 1
Fellowes, Julian ref 1
firing see dismissal
First World War ref 1, ref 2
followers ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
food and dining ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16
below stairs ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15
dinner parties ref 1
menus and recipes ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
footmen ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16, ref 17, ref 18, ref 19, ref 20, ref 21, ref 22, ref 23, ref 24, ref 25, ref 26, ref 27, ref 28, ref 29, ref 30
G
‘game chips’ ref 1
gamekeepers ref 1, ref 2
Gardener, Beatrice ref 1
gardeners ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6
Gardner, Beatrice ref 1
gas and electricity supplies ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
Gillows family ref 1, ref 2
Gorst, Frederick John ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
gossip ref 1
governesses ref 1
Graham, Lily ref 1
Green, Dorothy ref 1, ref 2
grooms ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7
groundsmen ref 1
guests, house ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11
H
hairdressing ref 1
hallboys ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12
height preferences ref 1
Hibbert, Jean ref 1, ref 2
hierarchy of servants ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11
‘high life’ ref 1
hiring staff ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5
holidays/ time off ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
homesickness ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
Honey, Frank ref 1, ref 2
Horne, Eric ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4
horse-drawn carriages ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
hours of work ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7
houseboy see hallboy
housekeepers ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16, ref 17
housemaids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16, ref 17, ref 18
see also maids
housemaid’s knee ref 1
Hume, Mrs ref 1
Hunt, Jean ref 1
Hunt, Mrs Ellen ref 1
hunting see shooting parties and hunting season
I
Inch, Arthur ref 1
Inch, George ref 1
interviews see hiring staff
ironing ref 1
J
Jeeves and Wooster ref 1
K
King, Ernest ref 1
kitchen maids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13
see also maids
kitchens and kitchen staff (general) ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16
L
lady’s maids ref 1 , ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14
Lanceley, William ref 1
Lancet ref 1
land stewards ref 1
Lane, Manny ref 1
Lansley, Henry ref 1
laundry and laundry maids ref 1, ref 2
Leighton Hall, Lancashire ref 1, ref 2
Lewis, Rosa ref 1
livery ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
London ref 1, ref 2
Londonderry House, London ref 1
Londonderry, Marchioness of ref 1
Longleat estate, Wiltshire ref 1, ref 2
Lothian, Marquess and Marchioness of ref 1
M
maids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16, ref 17, ref 18
between-stairs maids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
chambermaids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6
housemaids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref
5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16, ref 17, ref 18
kitchen maids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13
lady’s maid ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15
laundry maids ref 1
nursemaids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6
parlourmaids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9
scullery maids ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11
sex, seduction and romance ref 1
uniforms ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6
maids-of-all-work ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5
mangles ref 1, ref 2
manservants see footmen
Marion, Kitty ref 1
marriages ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
Massey, Mrs ref 1
masters of the house ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16, ref 17, ref 18, ref 19, ref 20, ref 21
McKenzie Hill, Janet ref 1, ref 2, ref 3
McLeod, John ref 1
mechanics ref 1, ref 2
Melville-Steele, Mrs Edith ref 1
menus and recipes ref 1, ref 2 , ref 3
middle-classes ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14
mistreatment ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5
mistresses of the house ref 1, ref 2, ref 3, ref 4, ref 5, ref 6, ref 7, ref 8, ref 9, ref 10, ref 11, ref 12, ref 13, ref 14, ref 15, ref 16, ref 17, ref 18, ref 19, ref 20, ref 21, ref 22, ref 23, ref 24, ref 25, ref 26, ref 27, ref 28, ref 29, ref 30, ref 31, ref 32, ref 33, ref 34, ref 35, ref 36, ref 37, ref 38, ref 39
Life Below Stairs: True Lives of Edwardian Servants Page 12
