Wodehouses works. The Kitchen Maid: (Sophie McShera) Poor Daisy is at the bottom of the status ladder. In Sundays episode, when Lord G comes downstairs to tell everyone the war is over and how theyre going to assemble on the 11th at 11:00, he says I expect all of you, including the kitchen staff and hall boys, everyone, to be there. This implied to me that there are other servants, but since they dont have plot lines, we simply dont see them. Since he first started out as a footman, Carson was dedicated to the old ways that made a grand house work. How much did the 'Downton Abbey'-era upper class rely on servants? Vic Sanborn, founder of this blog, is supported by a team of talented and knowledgeable writers about Jane Austen and the Regency era. Happy 1st Day of May (and its traditions), Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers, Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century, Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey, The Servant's Quarters in 19th Century Country Houses Like Downton Abbey, Awkward! In desperation employers dangled the carrot of prettier outfits but it made no difference. Posted in jane austen, Movie review, PBS Movie Adaptation, Popular culture, Servants | Tagged Downton Abbey, Edwardian Country House, Edwardian servants, PBS Masterpiece Classic | 17 Comments. Maggie Smith will be playing a 120 year old by the time this show wraps production. Lily has landed some amazing roles since she appeared on the show, MORE:The real reason Lily James didn't appear in the Downton Abbey film revealed. The lower staff, and discussion on where all these servants are in Downton Abbey, after the jump. Just wondering assuming you could afford a house like Downton today, what would your staffing needs be now as compared to 1920? Ive been looking forward to its broadcast Sunday. Oh, ah, let em ring again! by George Cruikshank. Servants were expected to "know their place". I recently saw a graph that showed that only 8,000 Africans were brought to England throughout the entire Atlantic slave trade. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome. Read the review of the book at this link. Tom was an Irish radical turn chauffeur for Downton Abbey. Downton Abbey (TV Series 2010-2015) - IMDb Sophie McShera as Daisy, Kitchen Maid. The kitchen in these great houses often sat away from the house (to prevent cooking smells from wafting up to the public and private rooms) and were connected to the main house via underground passages. Also, could not some of the servants live in town? We do not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. Head of the female servants, she consults with her mistress daily about the meals, family plans, and any guests that are expected. Downton Abbey's kitchen maid Daisy Robinson, played by Sophie McShera. Watching Downton Abbey: Q's about slaves vs. servants. A newspaper reports that leading actors including Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern have been given three-year deals worth 1million each. For a start, how many servants are there in DA? 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. Alfred was rarely at the forefront of proceedings, which makes him one of the best employees at Downtown. While Mr. Carson is fair, he does not hesitate to reprimand a servant or even fire one if he thinks it is for the benefit of the house. Daisy was apprenticed to Mrs. Patmore, serving as second in command in the kitchens of Downton. Downton Abbey is a large house that requires a lot of upkeep and staff to run it. In the pipeline is a Tutankhamun centenary event in 2022, 100 years after the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, with Howard Carter, discovered the tomb that revolutionised our understanding of Egyptology. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Again, OBrien is way overworked if she is doing this for four ladies. Young, able servants were in a constant state of flux (they worked on average for 2-3 years before moving on), always looking for a better position, which they could acquire as long as their masters gave them good references. The servant bells behind William, the second footman. And fellow cast members Michelle Dockery, Laura . In class-obsessed Britain there was even a strict hierarchy among servants that kept them apart from one another. Scan this QR code to download the app now. The chances of a master being held to account were remote. I buy one for every attraction I visit. See also. I love P.G. But I assure you they have the normal amount of servants that an estate of this size was expected to have, probably more, as you posted they just arent part of the story, to many speaking parts would get confusing and very difficult to follow all the drama for every servant, oh and eventually as everyone knows, Branson takes over as land agent later in the story. And I also know they led relatively simple lives in terms of travel, leisure, etc. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Housekeeping was hard physical labor before central heat and air made houses cleaner; and standards of dustfree shining cleanliness were higher, not to mention the only way to have food was to cook from complete scratch every day and many households still made at least some of their own clothing. Its addictive! Laundry MaidsA house the size of Downton generates huge amounts of laundry. Nick BriggsCarnival Film & Television Ltd. By J.I. In the background, a servant scoops coal.Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE Downton Abbey's staff | Downton Abbey Wiki | Fandom A kind and observant woman, Mrs. Hughes nevertheless keeps her female team in line. If all you could afford was a girl a couple days a week, you got one. Anna maids the three daughters, plus different houses had different rules for daughters, some gave them maids and let them have breakfast in bed, others didnt, Downton is obviously the latter. This was a deliberate ploy to demonstrate that they were a class apart. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jane Austen's World with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. The year after leaving the ITV series, Dan landed his first leading role in a film in 2014 thriller The Guest, following by a part in the Night at the Museum sequel and Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast alongsideEmma Watson. Wed come home and have to talk about whatever episode we just watched, etc. Click on image. Youd still want a maid to do laundry and vacuum. Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes, Housekeeper. Has anybody read P.G. We may receive books (physical or digitized) and DVDs for review purposes. Alas and alack! It became an extravagance for all but the biggest houses to have servants. Rarely has her talent or her methods been challenged by anyone. Read the full article in The Sunday Times. Housemaids would tread silently up the servant (back) stairs unseen and unheard with fresh water and carrying covered slop pails. From reading Below Stairs by Margaret Powell is seems some employers made their servants to buy or make their own uniforms, and other provided them or parts of them (such as the cap). Gradually, however, this world began to disappear and the Downton Abbey period marked the swansong for domestic service. [] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Vic . But have you ever wondered how much money they've made since the show began? The price includes piano entertainment and an unlimited supply of little sandwiches, scones and cakes which are served graciously for as long as the customer wants to sit there basking in luxury. Downton Abbey: How much did Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith and more make The huge global success of Downton, according to Lady Fiona Carnarvon, has funded a rolling programme of building repairs aimed at safeguarding Highclere for the next generation. Dan Stevens, who played Mary's husband, Matthew Crawley, was one of the first members of the cast for whom Hollywood came knocking. Never call from one room to another and always answer when you have received an order. One period household manual gave this advice to employers: "By not acknowledging them you will spare them the shame of explaining their presence.". Our image of this. Rob James-Collier as Thomas, First Footman.Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. To perform all the heavy cleaning and lifting. The hotel is still one of the most elegant places to stay in London. As OBrien is doing the work of 3 or 4 Ladys maids, no wonder she is so sour. What happened to servants who did get pregnant? In some stately homes such as Petworth in West Sussex hidden passages kept servants separate from family members to spare them the embarrassment of encountering this under-class. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. II, By CHARLES G. HARPER. The idea was that they were mostimpressive if, like book ends, they matched. I was under. "I got up at 5.30am to clean the fireplaces and front steps, polish the shoes and boots of everyone in the household. In 1827, the Earl of Lichfield employed 107 servants at Shugborough Hall near Stafford. She earned the job after the reference from Thomas but was soon embroiled in blackmail due to her past. Ive already stated that I am going to cry at the Dowagers funeralsomething else I assume will will see in season three, I told you over at TNCs place, and Ill say it againMaggie Smith will never die, so you just stop that nonsense. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. 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Away from his role on the show, he is also known for period dramas Shakespeare in Love, My Week with Marilyn and the BBC series Cranford. January 11, 2016 7: . But, looking beyond that, he is one of the most dedicated staff members period. What It's Really Like to Work at a House Like Downton Abbey Today (2023) Mr. Carson was not only in charge of the male servants, but also of the wine cellar and the butlers pantry, which contained the family plate and silver. Died off Prome, the 7th October 1852, while in command of the Naval Expedition on the river Irrawady against the Burmese Forces, aged 73 years.. In fact as a new BBC series reveals their lot could be miserable, degrading and exhausting. Scan this QR code to download the app now, The Victorian Domestic Servant Hierarchy and Wage Scale. Answers must be in-depth and comprehensive, or they will be removed. I know it's not an easy comparison to today, because they had room and board included in their wages. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me and my team. A modern view? Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Any breakages or damage to the house will be deducted from wages. Love thomas, hes hot, hope I can find one that looks like him, Great BLOG I LIKE AND I COPY IN MY BLOG, [] also found lots of good articles on the downstairs staff and on Downton Abbey over at Jane Austens World blog [], [] a full explanation of who does what below the stairs, Id recommend reading this post on the blog, Jane Austens []. Servants are portrayed as a loyal and largely contented breed. Love this post, Vic. Although servants began their careers at the bottom, working menial jobs and catering to the upper servants as well as their masters, they could move up in the servant hierarchy. The Real Reason Why Downton Abbey Was Canceled - TheList.com This one explains how a pre-war British country house worked. 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. In 1891, the number of indoor domestic servants is 1.38 million, which is a pretty high number," says Dr Pamela Cox, senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Essex. Oh Woe! 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. Ha! Fired, thrown out. Fourth Footman fail. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Never let your voice be heard by the ladies and gentlemen of the house. 9. One difference between the Edwardian and Regency great house is that the Regency servants except for footmen were unlikely to wear uniforms. Answers must be in-depth and comprehensive, or they will be removed. Each table cloth would be washed, starched and ironed after each use. The First Footman: Thomas (Rob James-Collier) is a piece of work. For example, when Lady Sybil comes down to the kitchen to be taught to cook during series 2, there are several other kitchen maids, in addition to Daisy, around. The bottom line is quite thin, she said. Alongside her eventual husband Mr. Carson, Mrs. Hughes was dedicated to running as strong a household staff as possible. How wrong I was. But by 2012 the Downton effect had begun to take the pressure off. Did servants get holidays? - Z Library I've been watching the final season of Downton Abbey. Vic, [] Comments Downstairs in Downton Abbey: TheServants []. You would think a big house like Downton would provide them, but perhaps not. Head Housemaid: Joanne Froggatt as Anna is a pretty, quiet, and dependable presence. Drops Season 6 Trailer, Skating Highlights of the Week: Europeans and U.S. Nationals. Following the end of the series, she landed starring roles in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, Disney's live-action Cinderella and Yesterday. Except I guess we do, since each episode seems to span months, and sometimes years. How much did British servants make? In two years of real time, DA has progressed eight years. Your conclusion on the number of staff at Downton Abbey is Wrong. Tending to the vehicles, he was a skilled mechanic as well. It [Downton Abbey] is iconic for expressing Britishness. How much was Cora's dowry? 15 Proper Facts About 'Downton Abbey' - mentalfloss.com Copyright Statement: Jane Austen's World blog, 2009-2022. During season two, Downton Abbey was turned into a convalescent home for soldiers. (especially how it brings in the Honorary Colonel posting at the end to tie everything together! How did people treat slaves vs. servants and how did prospects differ for both groups once/if freed? Did slaves and servants get along, or did servants feel superior? Yet while their employers dined on nine-course meals costing up to six times a maid's annual wage employees were treated to the leftovers in the kitchen. Photograph: Nick Briggs/ITV. Due to SPAM, we will no longer accept comments on posts after 30 days of publication. Yet service allows him to better himself and someday work his way up to the position of butler. Service at table, except in the lowest houses employing servants was never performed by female servants. It is something I am passionate about; I am a really strong believer in soft power. As for the maids, there do seem to be six of them altogether: We are not nearly as proud of our achievements as we should be. Thomas Howes as William, the Second Footman. The lively conversations in the Downton Abbey servants' hall, which bring together ladies' maids, footmen, kitchen maids and sometimes the butler, housekeeper and cook do not necessarily reflect the experiences of most servants in large houses. Now Ive never seen a tweeny, but there seem to be about two hallboys/odd job men. Currently only the ground and first floors of Highclere, on the borders of Hampshire, are used. In the early seasons, Daisy is often more concerned with flights of fancy than her position, but as the series progresses, so do her priorities. From my point of view, Ive tried to persuade people it is fun, and have specific events they can engage with, not just a wander around a dusty house. Despite the awful wages and conditions competition for places was fierce. The Real Downton Abbey: How True To History Is The Drama? | HistoryExtra Mrs. Hughes was a friend to all of her staff, but she never allowed herself to be manipulated by her sympathies. The same was true here. It's believed that she is worth $4million. Are there still butlers? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. servant salaries on Downton Abbey Quietly, so as not to wake their masters, the servants maids and footmen would empty chamber pots, remove cold ashes in the fireplace, carry up coal and stoke a new fire, and tidy any messes away from the previous day. Alfred wasnephew to the villainous Mrs. O'Brien. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. The year after leaving the ITV series, Dan landed his first leading role in a film in 2014 thriller The Guest, following by a part in the Night at the Museum sequel and Disney's live-action Beauty. Downton Abbey: How much did Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith and more make during the show? Some servants suffered terrible abuse including beatings and rape. Domestic service, novelist and broadcaster JB Priestly declared in 1927, was "as obsolete as the horse" in an era of motor cars. The staff of Downton Abbey work for the Crawley family. Many of us today cannot understand why servants in country manors such as Downton Abbey would consider catering to the whims of others as a desirable occupation. I cant wait to see Downton Abbey. His net worth is believed to total $4 million. Wodehouses Jeeves and Wooster series of stores? :). The cast of female characters includes a housekeeper, a lady's maid, housemaids, a cook, and a kitchen maid. Estate manager (agent) Jarvis (1880-1920) Tom Branson (1920-24, since 1925) Mary Talbot (since 1925) Henry Talbot . In Downton Abbey, the veteran actress plays Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham and mother of Lord Crawley. Before the series began, Dame Maggie Smith was already a huge name among TV and film viewers, perhaps best known for her portrayal of Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise. DA is about to have the opposite problem of most TV shows, where the actors age faster than the plots move (Im looking at you, kid from Lost! In fact the doors of stately homes and townhouses revolved with departing servants seeking a better life elsewhere. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Joanne Froggatt plays Anna Bates on the show. Some years ago, I had tea there. Mr. Batess arrival creates a stir that causes the ladys maid and first footman to plot against him. No other member of the Downtown staff, not even Mrs. Hughes, gave more to their work than he did. For more information, please see our When the Downton Abbey producers first approached Highclere in 2009, the family faced a near 12m repair bill, with urgent work priced at 1.8m. Dan Stevens left the show to pursue other roles, MORE:Dan Stevens reveals the real reason he left Downton Abbey. Undercook or 1stkitchenmaid 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. Good eye! In the lower common area, servants were summoned by the family via a system of bells connected to each room. Towards this end, she has been secretly taking typing courses. A chronicle of the lives of the British aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early twentieth century. Servants should never offer any opinion to their employers, nor even to say good night. That is more than worked on the land or in factories. As head housemaid, she assists the daughters of the house with their hair and wardrobe, but she also performs the duties of a regular maid, dusting, cleaning, and changing the bed linen. Many valets did very well for themselves. Footmen on 'Downton Abbey'. 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. The fact that Bates the valet was expected to fill in at even a small dinner is not something that would normally be case. Though some servants were married Samuel and Sarah Adams who wrote the Complete Servants come to mind most employers wouldnt hire married women and fired females who married. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. The last hurrah of great houses and servants. We saw some gamekeepers in the shooting episode in which Mary was accompanied by Sir Richard. Thomas was one of the most villainous characters in the series. Downton Abbey as History | Foreign Affairs Cookie Notice Im watching downtown abbey as a distraction from quarantine. Forget cosy notions of Hudson the butler and Mrs Bridges the cook - this servitude was thankless, sweaty, backbreaking work. As the driver, he took all of the family to and from the main house and around the countryside. No servant is to take any knives or forks or other article, nor on any account to remove any provisions, nor ale or beer out of the hall. However, we do accept and keep books and CDs to review. Apparently nothing was considered too menial and records show that servants' duties included ironing shoelaces and cutting their masters' toenails. Ive wondered who does Isobels hair, and who does the laundry and ironing. In smaller, middle-class homes in the cities servants were pushed into attics and dank basements to keep them apart from the family. Scullery maids, cleaned and washed up in the separate scullery area. A first footman will serve as valet to the male guests if they arrive without a male servant. The Butler: Jim Carter, who you may remember as Captain Brown from Cranford, portrays Mr. Carson, the butler, with grave dignity. Elizabeth McGovern began her career almost forty years ago in 1979, landing her first part in a television show when she was still a teenager. Back of the house. Did Highclere Castle have bathrooms? Would that be analogous to, say, a mid-range hotel manager today, in status and income? Such a close daily association often develops intimacy over time. Im hugely grateful. Alfred played the role of one of the home's footman after Thomas became Valet. How Downton Abbey helped to rescue Highclere Castle from ruin How much does it cost to get married at Downton Abbey? That was very interesting! June 27, 2021. Tweenies had pretty much gone out of fashion by 1900, so the absence is perhaps not as surprising as the apparent absence of a laundress. "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. Oddjob mandoes heavy lifting in the house, replaces oil in lamps, carries logs for the parlormaids to make fires in the main floor fireplaces, carries logs for the chambermaids to look after the fireplaces in the family and visitor bedrooms, can help maids carry up hot water for baths (piped hot water was so rare as to practically never happen).