Having watched “UPSTAIRS/DOWNSTAIRS” and numerous other BBC series (like “1900 House”), I wonder what life was like for servants in the Edwardian days. The labor (particularly for maids and cooks) was backbreaking…hours to prepare a meal! On the onther hand, if you were a male butler or driver, life was probably not too bad. My question: did you have any days off? Also, you were probably paid a pittance…so when you got too old to work, did you have anything to retire on? So, when we look back at the Victorians/Edwardians, and see the starched collars and formal dress, what really was life like for the servants that kept the rich happy? Iguess that not many people LIKE being servants…I undertsnad that it is hard to get good help these days?
Anyway, given that the life expectancy in 1900 was probably around 55 years…did you even HAVE to worry about retirement?
To quote one Ebenezer Scrooge: “are there no workhouses, no jails”?
The British TV station Channel 4 recently ran a series called "An Edwardian Country House " where members of the public took part in both the Upstairs and Downstairs roles. This included , for the servants ,getting up very early to light to fires , emptying the chamber pots of the “family” and serving hand and foot on the privelaged “upstairs”. In just two weeks two of the servants quit because of the bad conditions but the rest stuck it out to the end even though the regime was hard.
If you haven’t seen the series “Manor House” (which was filmed in England and recently broadcast on PBS in the US), it answers many of your questions. The show takes a dozen or so volunteers to live in an Edwardian mansion c. 1905 and is mostly told from the viewpoint of the servants.
Generally speaking, at that time, being the lowliest scullery maid in a wealthy household was much more prestigious and comfortable than most other jobs available (like factory work).
Time off was granted at the pleasure of the master of the house, but was by no means guaranteed. Benevolent masters might give you an afternoon a week (provided your work was done).
Maids and female servants were usually better off in the long run - in terms of retirement - if they married. Servants who retired from the service may be able to count on a small pension from their master, if they served loyally.
This is based on my recollection from the show, so some of generalizations may be off.
There is a lot more detail at the show’s website, Manor House.
It looks as though "An Edwardian Country House " was re-titled “Manor House for the US market. Slight correction - “1900’s” House” was also a Channel 4 programme and not from the BBC.
Mystery writer Peter Dickinson has an interesting essay, Murder in the Manor, on his web site. He talks about life in those big country houses that old murder mysteries are always set in and the enormous distance that was maintained between masters and servants.