Well, here we are at part three, did you imagine that there were so many jobs serving one house and one family?
The Kitchen
The kitchen was its own personal fiefdom run by a chef or cook. Often cooks and housekeepers might be at odds with one another and those political struggles could infect the happiness of a whole household.
The Chef
The nicest houses had a chef. He, (chefs were invariably males at this time) was likely to come from France and was the ultimate status symbol. If you had a male chef from England, you were a step down. There was fierce competition in stealing away chefs from friends and family.
The Cook
Cooks were likely female and prepared the day to day meals. Even in houses that contained a chef, there was a cook that was likely to prepare the breakfast, lunch and tea. The cook was responsible for the quality of the upstairs meals as well as the presentation.
The Under Cook
Apprentice to the cook. The under cook prepared all of the staff meals. First in line for the cook’s job. The under cook prepped the cook’s workspace and generally acted as a sous chef.
Kitchen Maids
Despite being a low position, this was a sought-after job as one could learn the cook’s trade. In a large house the kitchen maid could move up to under cook and in a small house, acted as an under cook. The kitchen maid was expected to wake early, start the fire in the stove and in a small house make the cook’s tea or coffee. In a very small house the kitchen maid might also be expected to do the cleaning and washing up. In a larger house the kitchen maids had a strict hierarchy as you will see:
First Kitchen Maid
The first kitchen maid prepared the pastries and generally learned the trade of the cook. In larger houses the first kitchen maid might prepare the meals for the lower staff while the under cook prepared the upper and senior staffs’ meals.
Second Kitchen Maid / Vegetable Maid
Literally, a girl who prepped and prepared the vegetables.
Scullery Maid
The youngest girl in a kitchen would likely be a scullery maid, scrubbing and cleaning pots and pans and generally assisting the kitchen maid.
Daily Maid
A daily maid was a woman who was hired from the local village to come and help out when needed. She was hired by the day, hence Daily Maid.
The Nursery
Governess /Au Pair
In a special place separate from the rest of the household staff, the Governess’ position could be a lonely one. See any Bronte novel for reference. A Governess was likely from a well born family that had come down in the world. Her dinner was usually a solitary meal served on a tray. This was one of those Senior Staff jobs. Waited on by lower staff, but not as highly ranked as the Butler or Housekeeper. Governesses were essentially teachers who taught refined lessons and homeschooled the teenage girls who were unable to be sent to boarding school. These women lived in a netherworld that was often lonely; not part of the family, but not one of the servants. Because of their education and higher social standing, young governesses might be looked on with suspicion by the women of the house. Every gesture could be scrutinized for signs of being a gold digger or femme fatal. Generally, it could be an awful life.
Nanny
The nanny was in charge of the children. She dictated how they would be fed and educated. The nanny stayed with the children where ever they were even if that meant travelling with them. She might be expected to eat with them for breakfast and tea. Nannies usually brought the children down for an hour with their parents every day and in very sentimental families, might present the children before bed to their parents for a hearty goodnight. Part pre-school teacher, martinet and surrogate mother, the nanny often ran a small staff herself. Nurse maids were responsible to the nanny. Only in very small houses would a nanny change a diaper or bathe a child.
Nurse Maids
The nurse maid bathes the children, gets them dressed and ready for the day and prepares them for bed. A nurse maid might also play with the children, giving the nanny a break from lessons. She would also handle the dirty diapers, not only changing the child, but washing and cleaning the dirty linens. Depending on the size of the house and the number of children, there might be one to three Nurse Maids.
Head Nurse
In a large family, a head nurse would be in charge of the entire nursing staff.
Well, we have a fairly exhausted the inside of a great home.
Next, we’re onto the grounds. Much love, Cheri
