Did the Victorians have servants?

The Victorian period in Britain saw a peak in the numbers of servants employed in households. All upper class houses had several servants, and most middle class households aspired to have at least one or two servants. Like the rest of Victorian society, the servants were part of a strict hierarchy.

What did servants do in Victorian times?

Servants in Victorian England were responsible for most domestic chores and labor such as washing clothes and cooking food.

Did servants get days off?

Servants worked 17-hour days with time off limited to church on Sunday morning and one afternoon a week. SOCIAL historian Dr Pamela Cox, who presents Servants – The True Story Of Life Below Stairs, says: “Country houses wouldn’t have been able to function without a vast hidden army of servants.

How did the rich treat the poor in Victorian times?

Rich people could afford lots of treats like holidays, fancy clothes, and even telephones when they were invented. Poor people – even children – had to work hard in factories, mines or workhouses. They didn’t get paid very much money. By the end of the Victorian era, all children could go to school for free.

When did we stop having servants?

It was the beginning of the end. Domestic service dropped by more than half between 1940 and 1950. After the war, wages remained high. In a bid to sidestep labor laws, employers paid nannies and cleaners under the table instead of hiring servants full-time.

What jobs did servants do?

Both men and women worked as servants although the jobs they had to do were different. A man’s job might include running the stables, working in the gardens or working as a footman or butler. Women were usually given the jobs of cooking, cleaning and other general housekeeping tasks.

What did Victorian butlers do?

A single-handed butler takes charge of dining room and silver, and valets the gentlemen of the house. 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.

Did servants get married?

A great majority of female domestic servants did get married, of course. On the average, they were about 25 years old when they married. They could not go back to their jobs as live-in servants, because they were married, and were now expected to care for their husband and children.

Could servants get married?

A great majority of female domestic servants did get married, of course. They could not go back to their jobs as live-in servants, because they were married, and were now expected to care for their husband and children.

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.

What did wealthy Victorians do for work?

Mothers of wealthy Victorian families didn’t work. They spent their days calling on friends and relatives. Most of the child care was done by a nanny. Rich Victorian men had jobs such as doctors, lawyers, bankers and factory owners.

How were the lower class treated in the Victorian era?

The lower class included people who did physical labor and were either paid hourly or daily. The middle class population was the people who did the “clean” work and were paid monthly or annually. The upper class did not need to work; their income came from the inherited lands and investments (“Victorian England”).

What was life like for servants in Victorian England?

During the Victorian times, there were servants who lived with the family they worked for and were provided with food and a place to live. In the early years of the 18th century, the servants used to sleep in the kitchen or at times in the cupboards.

What was the role of a nursemaid in the Victorian era?

Nursemaids took care of the children which also included taking them out for walks. There were servants who were called Parlor maids who answered the door, announced the arrival of guests and served at dinner. Servants included not only the female staff but also the male servant and the Steward topped the hierarchical ranking.

What was the role of servants in middle class families?

Servants in middle-class families. In case of families who were not so rich, the servants were responsible for all the household work from cleaning, washing to taking care of the children. Women who had servants to do the chores were able to take rest during pregnancy and this increased their chances of survival after childbirth.

Why were housemaids important in the Elizabethan era?

Women who had servants to do the chores were able to take rest during pregnancy and this increased their chances of survival after childbirth. Housemaids were responsible for almost everything like lighting the fire, changing bed linens, drawing the curtains, etc. Then there were Dairymaids who milked the cows and churned butter.