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What did servants eat in Victorian times?
In most wealthy houses, food for servants was abundant, if somewhat below the standard served ‘upstairs’. For breakfast, the servants ate bread and meat, the meat carved by the cook from the previous day’s roast or served in a slice of cold pie. Alternatively, they ate porridge, followed by bacon and eggs.
How were servants treated in Victorian times?
The mistreatment of servants was commonplace, and young maids were especially vulnerable to being sexually exploited. Once hired, they found themselves in households in which a strict and unbreachable hierarchy below stairs ensured that they stayed on the lowest rung of that society.
What did Victorians call their servants?
They included: Footmen; Under-Butlers; Housemaids; Nursery-Maids; Still-room Maids; Kitchen Maids; Scullery Maids; Laundry-Maids; Dairymaids; Kitchen Men; Baker and Helpers.
What time did servants eat?
The basement is buzzing again: the servants eat supper at 6 pm – a smaller meal than at midday. A five-course dinner is to be served upstairs at 8 pm, so everyone is hard at work.
When did servants eat in Victorian times?
‘Supper’ was usually taken at 9 o’clock, after most of the work had been finished. By the end of the 19th century, the time of servants’ dinner slipped later and later into the evening and a new lighter meal, ‘lunch’, took its place in the middle of the day, a division that worked well for the kitchen.
What did Downton Abbey servants eat?
The servants sometimes ate porridge (oatmeal) but toast, jam, and cups of strong tea was the norm. In the middle of the day (though not at exactly the same time), the family had luncheon, a light meal sometimes served buffet style. Servants had their main meal, dinner, in the middle of the day.
How much were servants paid in Victorian times?
Typical salaries were £20-30 (£1000-£1800) per year. Next in line to replace the butler. His main job was to be tall, handsome and represent the estate’s grandeur. He accompanied the lady of the house on shopping expeditions, served the family meals and assisted the butler in his duties.
Did Victorian middle class have servants?
In the Victorian era it was not just the aristocracy who employed servants, new wealth had trickled into the cities and led to a burgeoning middle class. Employing a servant was a sign of respectability, but for the lower middle class, where money was tighter, they could only afford one servant – the maid of all work.
How much did Victorian servants get paid?
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. Next in line to replace the butler. His main job was to be tall, handsome and represent the estate’s grandeur.
What do maids call their master’s son?
The Master and Mistress of the House should be addressed as « Sir » and « My Lady » respectively. The eldest son should be addressed as « Mister Jonathan » and the youngest son as « Master Guy ».
When did servants eat dinner?
midday
The main meal – ‘dinner’– was taken at around midday, while ‘tea’ was a very light meal served at around 4 o’clock. ‘Supper’ was usually taken at 9 o’clock, after most of the work had been finished.
Did they eat real food on Downton Abbey?
Though you might think it would be easier to use a plastic lobster or other trick, Sophie McShera (Daisy Mason) told Rachael Ray In Season that the food on Downton Abbey was almost all real, in a sense. It just had to sit out under hot lights and through multiple takes, which could take days.