While Mrs. Hughes was dedicated fully to her work, no one was as dedicated to the house as Mr. Carson. I also think I remember reading that slavery was outlawed much earlier than in the States. RELATED:Downton Abbey: 10 Couples That Would Have Made A Lot Of Sense (But Never Got Together). Downton Abbey will be shown Sunday night on your local PBS station starting at 9 p.m. Click here to view the video clips. Head of the female servants, she consults with her mistress daily about the meals, family plans, and any guests that are expected. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Scan this QR code to download the app now, The Victorian Domestic Servant Hierarchy and Wage Scale. Estate manager (agent) Jarvis (1880-1920) Tom Branson (1920-24, since 1925) Mary Talbot (since 1925) Henry Talbot . One Scullery maid/tweenie. 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. "I got up at 5.30am to clean the fireplaces and front steps, polish the shoes and boots of everyone in the household. Each table cloth would be washed, starched and ironed after each use. (And anibundel, for posting!). Unlike their poorly paid counterparts, servants were housed and fed by their masters. Matthew and Isobel did seem to live in Crawley House with a staff of only two, however, and Isobel seemed for a time to have only Mrs. Bird, and then Ethyl. Luckily, he was far kinder and more capable than his aunt ever was. How wrong I was. We had been doing corporate functions, but it all became pretty sparse after that. 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. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome. The main meal - 'dinner'- was taken at around midday, while 'tea' was a very light meal served at around 4 o'clock. January 11, 2016 7: . By the end of the 19th century, the time of servants . Never begin to talk to ladies and gentlemen. When disaster strikes, Daisy not only steps in but demonstrates that she is more than ready to step up the servant hierarchy. (modern), The Downton Abbey cast gather in front of Highclere Castle as they prepare for the final series. Marvelous Mrs Maisel: will Lenny Bruces death be depicted in season 5? One period household manual gave this advice to employers: "By not acknowledging them you will spare them the shame of explaining their presence.". The formerly somewhat basic ticketing policy has become a computerised advance booking system, helping to guarantee foreign visitors admission. Apparently nothing was considered too menial and records show that servants' duties included ironing shoelaces and cutting their masters' toenails. I believe that your desire for a portrayal of the economic reality of Downton Abbey is running smack against the economic reality of 21st century television. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. What It's Really Like to Work at a House Like Downton Abbey Today (2023) Although Downton Abbey follows only 11 of the upper servants closely, one can see other servants (housemaids, a scullery maid, young boys, coal men, and the like) in the background going about their business. Did servants get paid? Really it is a fantasy world, based in a particular time in history.