Category Archives: Living in the UK

Life Below Stairs ~ Housing the Servants

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

It was not uncommon for an English aristocrat or a wealthy man of the gentry to own several properties: country estates and a London house in a fashionable area of London. In doing so, the owner employed a variety of … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Georgian, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, Victorian era, William IV | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Life Below Stairs: Rising with the Sun in Victorian England ~ Part I

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Servants needed to be up and about their business long before the Master and the Mistress. For example, lower servants were up at 5 A.M. and at work minutes later. Most did not waste time in their rooms for they … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, history, Living in the UK, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Life Below Stairs – Snobbery and Rules of Engagement

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Previously, we looked at what a servant in an upper house, or even in a second-class household, of the late Regency Period or early Victorian times, might encounter. We spoke of wages, delineation of duties, and additional compensation. Today, we … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, food and drink, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Life Below Stairs – The Valet

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Footmen as we learned the last time often thought to join the upper servants in the role of valet or butler. (We saw the character of Thomas Barrow work in all three positions in Downton Abbey.) Today we have a … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Life Below Stairs: Non-Existent Legal Redress

Posted on August 30, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Was there legal redress for the servants of Victorian households?  Although there was genuine concern for the conditions in which many of the servants operated, most claimed it was impossible to make laws to protect domestic servants. Those that were … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Living in the UK, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Life Below Stairs – The Expense of Keeping Servants

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

The landed aristocrats were VERY slow to give up the expenses of an extensive household staff. We saw that “plot” being used in the final season of Downton Abbey. It is said that the sixth Duke of Portland employed some … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Napoleonic Wars, Regency era, servant life, Uncategorized, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Life Below Stairs: Compensation Beyond Salary for Work Done

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Despite the sometimes less than desirable conditions under which many of those below stairs endured in service, there were other compensations. Servants learned their deference. They were “invisible,” while remaining upon display throughout most of their work days. As such, … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Life Below Stairs – The Footman

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

There are tales of footmen who experienced criticism and mild taunts when they went about their master’s business. Even so, the footman became a sort of symbol of the division in society. Reports abound of street urchins throwing mud on … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, estates, fashion, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Life Below Stairs – Part I – Compensations and Obligations

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

With the popularity of Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey, the populace has become more aware of the British servant class. So what do we know of those who lived “below stairs”? First, rank and precedence ruled those of the servant … Continue reading →

Posted in customs and tradiitons, film, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Jane Austen, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, research, servants, tradtions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

24 July 1817, Marks the Burial of Jane Austen at Winchester Cathedral

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

via http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10199138/Jane-Austen-unveiled-as-face-of-new-10-note.html July 18, 2024 marked the 207th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen. Tribute from Austen’s most loyal fans continue to flow through any number of activities, readings, evensongs, and events, leading us to July 24, the date of … Continue reading →

Posted in British currency, British history, buildings and structures, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Jane Austen, literature, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, publishing, reading, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 24 July 1817, Marks the Burial of Jane Austen at Winchester Cathedral