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.
Did Victorian middle class have servants?
Middle-class homes in Victorian Britain would not have survived without servants to do the work. Some homes only had a single, over-worked maidservant, while others employed a whole army, from housekeeper and butler to lowest-paid kitchen maid.
What was the middle class in the Victorian Era?
The Victorian middle-class is largely associated with the growth of cities and the expansion of the economy. The term was used from around the mid-eighteenth century to describe those people below the aristocracy but above the workers.
Did rich Victorian children have servants?
For the upper classes, money was not a problem and these families could live however they wished. They lived in large homes with many servants. Children in these families were more often raised by nannies or nurses.
Were there servants in the Victorian Era?
Servants in Victorian England were a small step up from abject poverty as they generally had quarters and food from the household they looked after, but they generally lived a difficult life of constant work and servitude.
When did the middle class stop having servants?
The numbers of servants continued to dwindle in the 20th Century, particularly for the middle classes, and World War I and II had a profound effect.
When did people stop having ladies maids?
Such loyalty and long-standing employment between a lady’s maid and the lady of the house was common. The early 20th century started to see a decline in the use of a lady’s maid though the contrast of the lives of the staff and family on these estates still intrigues.
What jobs did middle class have?
Middle class jobs might include positions in various professions including engineers, accountants, construction workers, or medical technicians. The Middle-Class generally require at least a high school diploma and, in many cases, some college education.
What are 3 characteristics of the middle class?
In Western cultures, persons in the middle class tend to have a higher proportion of college degrees than those in the working class, have more income available for consumption, and may own property. Those in the middle class often are employed as professionals, managers, and civil servants.
What was the middle class ideal?
The term middle-class values is used by various writers and politicians to include such qualities as hard work, self-discipline, thrift, honesty, aspiration and ambition.
Did servants ever get a day off?
By the 1880s, servants were given a half-day off on Sundays, starting after lunch (and only if all their chores for that morning had been completed), and they were usually given one day off each month, starting after breakfast, and again, their chores all had to be finished first.
How much did Victorian maids get paid?
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 many hours did Victorian servants work?
Servants worked from 15 to 18 hours a day, with only half a day off per week. Meals and lodging were included, but pay was low.
What were female servants called?
A maid, or housemaid or maidservant, is a female domestic worker.
Did servants live upstairs or downstairs?
In the latter half of the 19th century, servants slept in attic bedrooms. These were often cold and damp in the winter and hot in the summer, with little light coming in from small windows. Some male servants slept downstairs to guard the family silver. The furnishings in servant quarters were basic and essential.
What is the hierarchy of servants?
Servants were divided into ‘Upper’ and ‘Under’ ranks. Upper ranks were entitled to respect and deference from the under staff. Upper rank servants would take the head places at dinner, unless they ate separately in the Steward’s or Housekeeper’s rooms.
Do middle class people have maids?
However, keep in mind that a middle-class American would likely not hire a full-time housekeeper. They would likely go through a third party service (I believe the most nationwide chain for this is ‘Merry Maids’) and the housekeeper would come by twice a month or something to do a deep clean of the house.
Were Butlers allowed to marry?
Employers generally prefer their butlers to be single. It is felt that butlers with wives can be torn between their loyalties towards their families and their master. A butler without any family commitments of his own is therefore able to devote himself entirely to the needs of the family he serves.
Where did scullery maids sleep?
attic floor
Housemaids, scullery maids and kitchen maids slept on the attic floor of the house. Two to a room, in some houses they even shared beds.
Were servant balls a thing?
The servants’ ball has had a long tradition in the country house estates of Britain and only really died out with the onset of the Second World War. They were a cultural melting pot where popular music of the day would be performed alongside traditional country dance tunes.
What are male maids called?
Answer. The masculine gender of a maid is the Manservant.