Chapter Four What's In A Day ? The Servants

The housemaid started her work between 5.30am and 6.00am, taking tea to the Lady's Maid and the Housekeeper and by 6.30am they started to light the fires, clean the 'public' rooms, make the beds, sweep, dust and clean the bedrooms, and the list goes on to even polishing windows and cleaning the marble floors, as well as making sure the fires are stoked properly. This is a 14 to 16 hr day --- and all for £22 a year !
The Scullery Maid never leaves the kitchen when working and is considered the lowest-ranking female servant. Her day begins at 4am. She cleans the grates and lays out the fire to heat the water for cooking on a coal-fired range. The Scullery Maid must dust and clean the kitchen before the cook starts work. Then all day it is washing up, preparing the vegetables and generally making sure the kitchen is as clean as possible. Again, the hardest working servant who got paid the least money --- £10 a year !

The Butler is the highest-ranking servant in the house. He is responsible for all the male staff and is the 'team leader' of the servants. The right-hand man of the Lord, the butler is respectful. His many duties include : serving meals and wine / caring for the wine cellar / checking the lamps and candles / is responsible for the family silver / is on call 24/7. The butler has often worked his way up so his authority is never questioned. £50 a year !

The Housekeeper was considered the highest-ranking female servant, a little lower than the butler and who took her orders from the Mistress or Lady of the house. In charge of all of the female staff, the housekeeper's job seemed to be a never ending task. Being called "Mrs", even if the housekeeper wasn't a married woman, she was looked up to by all of the female staff. The rank of a married woman was considered more important. In the series, Mrs.Hues, the housekeeper, seemed to have more keys than even the butler and was forever either at her desk doing the accounts, or running around, doing some endless task. All of this for £40 a year !