What was the role of a hall boy?
The hall boy or hallboy was a position held by a young male domestic worker on the staff of a great house, usually a young teenager. The hall boy was the lowest-ranked male servant, but he could rise to a higher position in the household, eventually becoming a valet or butler.
What was life like for a Victorian servant?
They had the most gruelling job of all, as they had to do all the chores for the house, often working from 6 in the morning until 10 at night, with very little time off. In households like Shibden, there were normally a few servants working together. Despite this, the work was still demanding.
Who did a scullery maid work for?
Your duties resume in the Kitchen at ten o’clock, when you must wash up all the dishes from the Servants’ Breakfast, as well as the pans and kitchen utensils used in preparing both the Servants’ and Family’s Breakfasts. At half-past ten you should lay the table in the Servants’ Hall for tea.
What did a butler do in Victorian times?
The domestic duties of the butler are to bring in the eatables at breakfast, and wait upon the family at that meal, assisted by the footman, and see to the cleanliness of everything at table. On taking away, he removes the tray with the china and plate, for which he is responsible.
What did a footman do?
Footman. The term footman originally applied to servants who ran alongside their masters who were on horseback – servants who were literally on foot. By the 1700s, the duties of footmen became somewhat less athletic and included assisting the butler serving at table, answering the door, and running errands.
Where did the servants sleep in Downton Abbey?
Interior, Upstairs Downstairs web page. Notice the tiny garret bedrooms. In this image, you can see the small garret rooms reserved for servants in the attic of a townhouse. Men’s and women’s quarters were separated, as in Downton Abbey, with the women’s quarters called the virgin’s wing.
How much did a Victorian maid earn?
Lady’s Maid and Valet They were hired by the Lady and Master of the house rather than by the butler, housekeeper or house steward. Typical salaries were £20-30 (£1000-£1800) per year.
How were Victorian maids punished?
Very often, in sheer desperation, they disposed of these new-borns in privies, ditches and on dung-heaps – and when found out, were tried by male judges and jurors. Although some were treated mercifully, others were hanged for their actions.
Did scullery maids get paid?
Her salary was usually 5 to 10 pounds less than the butler’s ($3,700-$5,400) per year. They were hired by the Lady and Master of the house rather than by the butler, housekeeper or house steward. Typical salaries were 20-30 pounds ($2,100-3,200) per year.
What did maids do in Victorian times?
A kitchen maid in Victorian England was also called a scullery maid and performed the most strenuous tasks in the kitchen such as mopping, scouring surfaces, and cleaning dishes.