The Scullery Maid: One of the Hardest Job Below Stairs in a Victorian Household.

The Scullery Maid: One of the Hardest Job Below Stairs in a Victorian Household.

Today I want to explore the life of one of the most overlooked people in a Victorian household: the scullery maid. It is easy to focus on the owners of these grand country houses or even the senior servants. But hidden away in the kitchens were the young servants whose work was often the hardest and the least appreciated of all.

During the Victorian period, many girls from poor families entered domestic service, some  as young twelve, often because their families needed the extra income or could no longer afford to support them. Service offered the girls food, accommodation and a small wage. Some parents hoped that service would provide their daughters with skills and a more secure future.

 

For some, becoming a scullery maid was their first job. They were usually among the youngest servants in the household and were at the very bottom of the servant hierarchy. Victorians placed great importance on status and rank, and everyone was expected to know their place. While a butler, housekeeper or cook held positions of responsibility, the scullery maid had very little status at all and usually earned the lowest wages in the house.

This may seem unfair to us  because the scullery maid often had the most physically demanding job. However, Victorian employers did not usually pay servants according to how hard they worked. Wages were based on a servants rank and the responsibility and trust that they had. A cook was responsible for feeding the household and a butler managed valuable property and supervised other servants. A scullery maid was considered inexperienced and easily replaced, so despite her workload, she received the least pay.

A typical day for a scullery maid often began before dawn. While most of the household was still asleep, the scullery maid was already working. One of her first tasks was usually to light the kitchen fires so that the days meals could be prepared later in the day. This involved carrying coal, cleaning the grates and removing the ashes, it was dirty work.

The work must have seemed endless. The scullery maid was also responsible for washing large piles of pots, pans, dishes and cutlery by hand. There were no modern dishwashers or labour-saving devices. After a grand dinner, can you imagine the mountains of greasy cookware that had to be scrubbed. She might also clean the floors, wash vegetables, fetch water, polish kitchen equipment and help to prepare food. Whatever unpleasant or tiring task needed doing it usually found its way to the scullery maid.

The kitchen could be a difficult place to work. In winter, carrying water through the yard must have been horrible. In summer, the heat from ovens and stoves would have been almost unbearable. They worked  long hours often between twelve and sixteen hours. If the household hosted a dinner party or ball, she could find herself still washing up long after the guests had left, sometimes even working until midnight before needing to get up again before dawn. Many of these girls had to work with aching backs, sore hands and tired feet.

Being so young and living away from home for the first time must have been hard, it may even have been lonely. Many struggled with homesickness and they were often overwhelmed by the demands of the job.

 Scullery maids were usually supervised by the cook and other senior servants. They all demanded high standards at all times. Some were fortunate enough to have employers that were kind and taught them valuable skills, but others were faced with harsh and critical employers who would demean them for even small mistakes.

Despite the hardships, many scullery maids hoped it would lead promotion. A diligent servant could eventually become a kitchen maid, cook or move into other  roles with even greater responsibility and better wages. Many though left service before this happened. For girls from poor families, service offered them a chance, however difficult, to build a better future for themselves.

Victorian households depended on the scullery maids unseen labour. The  comfortable lifestyles that were enjoyed by wealthy families were often made possible by young girls working long hours behind the scenes. Their names are often not remembered, but the  work they did kept some of Britain's largest households running smoothly.

Do you think that the hard work and sacrifices that the scullery maids made receives enough recognition today?

 

Image info:

Artist: Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin

Date: 1738

 

The Home Guard Part One: Why the Home Guard Was Created in 1940: Britain Prepares for Invasion

The Home Guard Part One: Why the Home Guard Was Created in 1940: Britain Prepares for Invasion

Today I want to start a short series about the Home Guard by looking at why it was created in 1940. The Home Guard today are often seen by many people as older men carrying rifles and standing watch in their local communities. But we forget that the story began during one of the most frightening periods in Britain's history, when many people genuinely believed that an enemy invasion could happen at any moment.

In the spring of 1940, the Second World War had been going on for several months. Britain had not yet experienced the full force of the German aggression. That changed dramatically when Germany launched a series of rapid attacks across Western Europe. Using fast-moving troops, tanks and aircraft, German forces swept through country after country. News of these victories shocked the British people.

The situation became even more alarming in May and June of 1940 when France, Britain's most important ally on the continent, formally requested an armistice on the 17th of June 1940, and the armistice took effect on the 25th of June 1940. The fall of France was difficult to comprehend. France had one of the largest armies in Europe, but it had been defeated in a matter of weeks. Families listened for updates on the radio. Newspapers were putting out even more worrying headlines. Many people must have thought Britain might be next.

As the threat and fear of a German invasion grew. Rumours started to circulate about enemy parachutists landing in fields or spies hiding in amongst them. Coastal communities were obviously worried, they knew that if there was an invasion, they could be among the first to face it.

The government realised that the country needed to prepare. On the 14th of May 1940, the Secretary of State for War, Anthony Eden, made a radio broadcast calling for people to volunteer in a new force called the Local Defence Volunteers, usually known as the LDV. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister, strongly supported the idea. The aim was simple: if an invasion came, local volunteers would help to defend their towns, villages and vital installations.

The response was extraordinary. Within only hours, men were queuing outside police stations and recruitment centres. Many were too old for regular military service, while others worked in jobs that were considered essential to the war effort. Some had fought during the First World War and had a sense of duty to serve once again. Some of the men had never served before but wanted to play their part. They may have been frightened about what lay ahead, but they were determined. Doing nothing was not an option for many of them.

More and more men joined up. Within only weeks, hundreds of thousands had volunteered, eventually exceeded 1.5 million members. They came from every walk of life, but they shared a common goal. They were determined to protect their homes and loved ones.

The organisation would renamed as the Home Guard on the 22nd of July 1940.

If you had been living in Britain during the summer of 1940, would you have joined the Local Defence Volunteers?

The Battle of Towton: The Battle That Completely Changed England.

The Battle of Towton: The Battle That Completely Changed England.

Today I want to take you back in time to one of the most brutal days in English history. We often hear about the Wars of the Roses and the struggle between the Houses of York and Lancaster. The struggle seems so remote, it is easy to forget the ordinary men who were caught up in the conflict. The Battle of Towton was fought on the 29th of March in 1461, which was Palm Sunday. It was one of the largest and bloodiest battles ever fought on English soil.

The Wars of the Roses had been raging for several years. Rival noble families were fighting for control of the throne, and loyalties were divided. Some men followed their local lord because they felt it was their duty. Others were hoping to gain from it, but for many, they had very little choice in the matter. Families could even find themselves on opposing sides. As the tensions grew, both sides prepared for a decisive confrontation.

The battle took place near the village of Towton in Yorkshire. The weather was dreadful. There was snow and strong winds that swept across the battlefield, making the conditions terrible for everyone. The Yorkist army who supported Edward IV, faced the Lancastrian forces, who remained loyal to Henry VI.

 

Thousands of men stood in the freezing weather with the knowledge that many of them might not survive the day.

When the fighting started, the wind favoured the Yorkists. Their archers were able to fire further, while the Lancastrian arrows fell short. But this advantage did not decide the battle. Before long, the two sides crashed together in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Soldiers fought with swords, axes, bills and daggers. Men were pushed, struck and trampled in the mud and snow.

For hours neither side could gain a clear advantage. The fighting became a grim test of endurance. Many soldiers were not professional fighters but ordinary men that were called on to fight for their lord or king. The casualties mounted up, and the battlefield became even more chaotic.

Eventually reinforcements led by John Mowbray arrived for the Yorkists. Their arrival helped turn the tide of the battle. The Lancastrian line began to collapse and many soldiers ran. What followed was perhaps the most terrible part of the day. Many of the men that fled were cut down as they tried to escape. By the end of the battle, thousands were dead. Historians still debate the exact number, but it was undoubtedly one of the bloodiest conflicts ever fought in England.

The victory secured the throne for Edward IV and marked a major turning point in the Wars of the Roses. But for the families who lost fathers, sons, brothers and husbands, there was very little cause for celebration. The battle may have decided a crown, but it also left behind intense grief.

Do you think that the ordinary soldiers who fought at Towton believed they were fighting for a cause, or were victims of a power struggle?

The Volunteer Firewatchers of the Blitz in World War Two.

The Volunteer Firewatchers of the Blitz in World War Two.

Today I want to return to the British Home Front and tell you about a group of volunteers who played a vital role during the Blitz.

They were known as firewatchers, and although they rarely receive the same attention as the soldiers or the aircrew, their work helped to save countless buildings and lives during the Blitz.

When Germany began its bombing campaign against Britain in 1940, many people were worried about the destruction that would be caused. Large numbers of incendiary bombs were also being dropped on towns and cities. These small bombs were designed to start fires rather than cause explosions. A single incendiary bomb could set fire to an entire building and the flames could spread through the streets affecting homes, shops and factories.

As the bombing intensified, the government realised that professional firefighters could not cope with every outbreak of fire without help. Volunteers from all walks of life stepped up. Many had worked a full day before beginning a long shift of fire watching. They agreed to stay on the roofs during the night, in factory buildings, schools, offices and warehouses. They were there to put out any incendiary bombs that landed during a raid before a fire could take hold, often using buckets of sand or stirrup pumps. They were often supplied with basic protection, usually just a tin hat. The job was dangerous but essential.

The explosions and fires must have been terrifying, but many remained at their posts throughout the entire raid.

One example of the work they did was during the heavy bombing of London. Firewatchers helped to protect many important buildings, including churches, museums and historic landmarks. If they had failed does not bear thinking about. Britain could have lost many more beautiful and irreplaceable buildings and important records.

By 1941, firewatching had become a part of wartime life. Businesses organised duty rotas and many workers took turns. Firewatching became compulsory for many workplaces under the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order of 1941. Some would complain about the long hours and the exhaustion, which is hardly surprising. Imagine finishing a day’s work only to spend the night looking out for bombs. But many just accepted the responsibility because they knew what was at stake. They were fighting on their own battlefield, one air raid at a time. They were helping to defend their communities.

As the threat of large-scale bombing started to ease after the worst years of the Blitz, the need for them to constantly fire watch reduced. But, the contribution of these volunteers should not be forgotten. They stood watch on cold nights, dealt with the fear and the exhaustion, and often placed themselves in danger in order to protect the places where they lived and worked.

Do you think firewatchers receive the recognition they deserve for the risks they took ?

Did Victorian Servants’ Get Time Off? If So How Much?

Did Victorian Servants’ Get Time Off? If So How Much?

Today I want to explore a part of Victorian life that is often overlooked. We usually picture servants working very long hours in beautiful grand houses, constantly cleaning, cooking or answering bells. But what happened when they were allowed time off? For many Victorian servants, time off from work must have been precious.

During the early Victorian period, domestic service was one of the largest occupations in Britain. Hundreds of thousands of people worked as servants. Life for them was often very demanding, but they did get time off, albeit rarely. A servant’s day usually started before dawn and it did not end until late at night. Their duties varied depending on their rank within the household, the lowest being the scullery maid and boot boy. Victorians seemed to place huge importance on hierarchy and everyone was expected to know their place. Most servants had very little privacy and had to live under strict rules. Their employers often expected loyalty, obedience and hard work. Could you imagine this system today?

In the first half of the nineteenth century, many servants received very little free time. Some may have only got a few hours off on a Sunday afternoon after church. Others had no regular time off at all. Younger servants who had left rural villages to work in towns and cities could often go for weeks or even months without seeing their families. It was not uncommon for them to struggle with homesickness and loneliness.

Attitudes slowly began to change. Reformers and some employers began to recognise that servants were in fact human beings who needed to rest and have recreation time. By the late nineteenth century, many households had introduced a regular “afternoon out” or “evening out.” This allowed a servant a few hours each week away from the house, although the exact arrangements depended entirely on the employer. 

Some servants visited with family or friends if they lived nearby. Others went to church activities, joined local clubs or just enjoyed a walk in parks and busy streets for a little fresh air. For the young women working in service, these outings gave them an  opportunity to socialise and maybe even meet a potential future husband. For many, it was a chance to feel independent, if only for a short while.

Victorian servants were generally allowed to court, but it was often restricted and depended on their employer.

Many employers expected servants to behave respectably and might disapprove of relationships that they considered unsuitable. Female servants were usually watched more closely than male servants because employers worried about scandal. They were concerned about pregnancy, or a servant leaving her position to marry.

Marriage was actually expected by many Victorians. A large number of female servants left service when they married, as married women were often expected to focus on  their own homes and families. Employers sometimes assumed that young women would only remain in service until they found a husband.

Some free time was not spent away from the household. In some homes, especially where employers were kinder or at least wanted to appear to be, servants occasionally took part in organised outings. During the summer they might join the family on trips to the seaside, country fairs or places of local interest and were able to enjoy parts of the day themselves. Christmas also could bring a welcome break from the usual routine. Some households gave gifts, organised special meals or even allowed extra time off so servants could visit their families. In larger towns and cities, servants' balls also became popular. These events gave domestic workers a chance to dress up, dance, meet friends and enjoy themselves.

When servants had time off they were expected to return punctually and behave respectably. Employers worried that their staff might mix with the “wrong” company or neglect their duties. Some servants actually felt pressure even during their time off.

Annual holidays were even more special. Although not many servants received them, those who did might have spent a few days visiting relatives or returning to their home towns or villages.

By the end of the Victorian period, conditions had improved somewhat, although service was still demanding. Industrialisation had also helped to bring about change. As factories, shops and offices started to expand during the nineteenth century, domestic service was no longer the only option for many young people looking for work. Some workers could earn similar or even better wages in factories, and many jobs came with much more predictable hours and regular time off. This meant that employers found it harder to find and keep servants. To compete, some households gradually started to offer better conditions, including regular afternoons out, occasional holidays and a little more freedom than servants had enjoyed earlier in the century. So really the improvements didn’t just come from people being more magnanimous but from their own need to find staff. Had the industrial revolution not happened many employers may well have been quite comfortable with the old working conditions.

How do you think you would have faired as a Victorian servant ? Personally I don’t know how they managed it.

The Battle of Bamber Bridge in 1943: When Segregation Sparked a Conflict in Wartime Britain

The Battle of Bamber Bridge in 1943: When Segregation Sparked a Conflict in Wartime Britain

As you know yesterday I wrote about Black American soldiers in Britain during the Second World War. I touched on the Battle of Bamber Bridge, and today I want to follow on from that and tell you more about the incident, it revealed how the imported segregation and racial prejudice created tension.

Stock image

Not the men involved.

By 1943, large numbers of American troops were stationed all across Britain. Among them were Black American servicemen, the American military was at the time segregated. Many of these servicemen worked in transport, engineering and support roles, but many wished they could go into combat. They wore the same uniform and often faced the same dangers of war, but they were often treated unfairly.

These tensions became painfully clear in the Lancashire village of Bamber Bridge, near Preston. Black soldiers from the 1511th Quartermaster Truck Regiment were stationed nearby. Many local people had welcomed them. Unlike the strict segregation many Black GIs had experienced in parts of the United States, British pubs and social spaces were generally open to them. Britain had it prejudices and racial problems but were far from segregated. Friendships had formed and the local residents often treated the men with respect and kindness.

On the evening of the 24th of June 1943, several Black soldiers were spending time in a village pub called the Ye Olde Hob Inn. Military police, who were white Americans, entered the pub and attempted to arrest one of the soldiers. There are differing accounts about the exact reason, but tensions quickly rose. The landlord and some local people reportedly questioned why the man was being arrested and they complained about how heavy-handed the police were.

The situation escalated. Words were exchanged which led to a scuffle. The military police left but that wasnt the end of it. News about the encounter spread between the soldiers back at camp. There was already strain about the segregation and resentment was building. What started as a dispute in a pub grew into something much, much bigger.

Later that night, armed military police returned to the camp to make arrests. A white military policeman fired and Private William Crossland, a black soldier, was shot and killed. After this, the situation escalated and both the MPs and some armed Black soldiers exchanged shots. For several hours, the village was caught in the middle of an armed confrontation.

The violence eventually came to an end, but the cost was tragic. One Black soldier was killed and several others were wounded. Many servicemen were arrested and faced military punishment.

The incident became known as the Battle of Bamber Bridge, although it was less a battle than an explosion of frustration and injustice. People often recall the support shown by many villagers to the Black soldiers. American authorities tried to contain the embarrassment and to restore order.

This reminds us that the struggle against hatred did not only exist on the battlefield. Even while fighting fascism abroad, some soldiers were still battling prejudice at home.

The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 -When Ordinary People Stood up and Demanded Change.

The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 -When Ordinary People Stood up and Demanded Change.

Today I want to briefly step away from the Tudors which we have been exploring for last few weeks and travel back a little further to one of the most remarkable moments of medieval England. I want to tell you about the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, a time when ordinary people came together and demanded change. They wanted to challenge the system, one that they felt was unfair.

In the middle of the fourteenth century, England had been devastated by the Black Death. The disease had killed a large part of the population. It had left villages changed forever. For the people who had survived, new opportunities were beginning to appear. Workers were suddenly in much greater demand because there were less people available to do the work. Many had hoped that this would mean better wages and by extension that their lives and that of their families would have improved.

Not everyone welcomed the changes. Landowners and officials tried to keep wages under control and to prevent workers from getting too much freedom.

Government also needed more money to help fund wars abroad. Several taxes were introduced, including a poll tax that demanded the same amount of money from everyone regardless of how wealthy they were. Many people thought this was grossly unfair. Families that were already struggling to make ends meet were being asked to contribute just as much as people who had huge wealth.

By 1381, the resentment had been building for years. Many labourers, craftsmen and villagers were feeling ignored and burdened by the rules that seemed to be designed to benefit others. When the tax collectors arrived demanding their payment, the anger that had been brewing erupted and it turned into resistance. What started as small localised unrest quickly spread across parts of southern and eastern England.

Groups of rebels began to meet up and unite. One of their most famous leaders was Wat Tyler. The priest John Ball was also an inspiration, he had encouraged people to question why society was so unequal. His message had resonated with many people who believed that they deserved fairer.

The rebels marched towards London, they gathered supporters along the way. For many, the journey must have been a mix of emotions. Was there fear or some level of determination and maybe even excitement?

When they eventually reached London, some of the government buildings were attacked and important records were destroyed. The authorities were unable to ignore what was happening. The young king, Richard II, agreed to meet with some of the representatives of the rebels. For a while, it seemed possible that some of the rebels demands might actually be met.

But during a meeting at Smithfield, Wat Tyler was killed. The loss of their leader weakened the rebel movement, and many of them started to return home. Royal authority was then restored, and many of the promises that had been made were withdrawn. Some of the protest leaders were arrested and had to face harsh punishments for their involvement. A clear warning should anyone think of rising up again.

Their actions revealed the growing tensions in medieval society.

Would you have been brave enough to join the revolt?

Image info:

Artist: Jean Froissart

Date: 1401-1500

Collection: Bibliothèque nationale de France

Richard II meeting the rebels, 1381.