I am setting a short story and I just need to find details of domestic staff in this century for a small manor house!. HelpWww@QuestionHome@Com
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Position:Home>History> How was an English Manor House c1850 staffed?Question: How was an English Manor House c1850 staffed!? I am setting a short story and I just need to find details of domestic staff in this century for a small manor house!. HelpWww@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: There would probably be quite a large number of servants in even a small manor house!. At the top of the hierarchy of servants there would be a butler and possibly a housekeeper as well (large households generally had both, smaller households might have only one or the other)!. There would be several maids, housemaids who did most of the housework, parlormaids who did most of the waiting on the family!. The kitchen of course would be ruled by the cook, and she would have a scullery maid to help her, perhaps more than one if it was a large household!. There might be footmen as well as the butler!. There would probably be a boy to clean the boots and shoes!. The master of the house might have a valet, who was his own personal servant who waited on him, helpin ghim get dressed, taking care of his clothes etc, and his wife would have a lady's maid who did the same for her, helping gher dress, doing her hair, caring for her clothes etc!. There would be a nanny to look after the children, and if it was a large family she would probably have a nursery maid to assist her!. Older girls would have a governess to teach them, or possibly they might go away to school like their brothers would when they were old enough!. Outside there would be gardeners to take care of the gardens, and grooms to look after the horses in the stables!. And there would be a coachman to drive the coach when the family went out!. And there would be a gamekeeper, or perhaps more than one, who would look after the lands, keep an eye out for poachers, and take care of the game birds that the master and his friends would enjoy shooting in the winter!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Here is an extract from the 1881 census detailing those living in a Manor House (this will exclude outdoor staff such as coachmen who generally did not live in the main house) I know this is 30 years after what you're looking for but the distribution of servants remained very similar!. It is possible to obtain CDs with 1851 census papers on it that might give you a more accurate reference!. Here is the extract: Dwelling:Horton Manor House Census Place: Epsom, Surrey, England William TROLTER Rel: Head Occ: Justice Of The Peace Farming 148 Acres Employing 5 Men Mary E!. TROLTER Rel: Wife Harriet A!. TROLTER Rel: Daur William S!. TROLTER Rel: Son Occ: Gentleman Farmer No Occupation Mary Louisa TROLTER Rel: Daur Arthur Edwd!. TROLTER Rel: Son Occ: Retired Captain 19 Regmt Henry E!. TROLTER Rel: Son Occ: Vicar Of Northam Southampton Emily A!. TROLTER Rel: Daur Gertrude H!. TROLTER Rel: Daur Ernest B!. TROLTER Rel: Son Occ: Solicitor Adela M!. TROLTER Rel: Daur James BENTLEY Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Butler Thomas STYCHE Rel:Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Footman Charles BROOK Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Footman James NOKES Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Coachman Alfred COLLETT Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Groom Joel ROPER Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Odd Man Ann COTTLE Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Old Nurse Hannah PALMER Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Housekeeper Fanny MILLER Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Housemaid Helen BEER Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Housemaid Mary A!. SMITH Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Housemaid Elizabeth DOLLIMORE Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Housemaid Annie ALLEN Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Ladys Maid Elizabeth BRADBURY Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Kitchen Maid Catherine ALCOTT Rel: Servant Occ: Domestic Servant Scullery MaidWww@QuestionHome@Com lots of nubile and willing young ladiesWww@QuestionHome@Com |