#408 | Upstairs, Downstairs: The Lives of British Servants
Oct 5, 2023
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In this podcast, they discuss the servant class in Britain, including their high numbers in the early 20th century and the hierarchy among different types of servants. They also explore the decline of domestic service due to various factors such as changing employment opportunities and technology. Live-in servants are now mostly limited to the wealthy. The podcast recommends media such as Downton Abbey and The Remains of the Day to further explore this topic.
Working as a domestic servant was the most popular job in Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with 1.5 million people employed in household service.
The lives of female servants were generally worse, facing lower pay, job insecurity, and the risk of unwanted advances from male employers.
Deep dives
The Size of the Servant Class
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Britain, household service was the most popular job, with 1.5 million people, or 4% of the total population, working as domestic servants. An astonishing number of more than 1 million young women aged 15-20 were domestic servants, accounting for one out of every three young women at the time. This episode explores why working as a domestic servant was so common during this period.
Factors Influencing the Demand and Supply of Servants
There were several factors influencing the demand and supply of domestic servants during this time. On the supply side, the abundance of labor from wide-scale migration to cities during the Industrial Revolution, limited employment opportunities for women, and the appeal of free accommodation contributed to the popularity of working as a servant. On the demand side, the rise of a new professional class with disposable income meant that people hired servants to alleviate the burden of domestic tasks.
The Lives and Hierarchy of Servants
The lives of domestic servants varied, but overall, it was a challenging and demanding job, especially for women who faced lower pay, job insecurity, and the risk of unwanted advances from male employers. The daily tasks for female servants were extensive and time-consuming, involving cleaning, cooking, washing, and other household chores. The servant hierarchy was evident in grand homes, with the butler and housekeeper at the top, responsible for maintaining order and service quality. However, for most households, the employment of domestic servants extended beyond the aristocracy, with an estimated 25-30% of all households employing at least one servant.
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It was at one point the most popular job in Britain, surpassing professions such as coal mining and factory work.
In this episode, we'll be talking about the servant class, the hierarchy of different types of servants, and the decline of household service in Britain.
Most popular job in Britain: Household service in 1901
Reasons for high servant numbers: Supply and demand factors
Experiences of female servants were generally worse
Hierarchy among servants: Butler and housekeeper at the top
Decline of domestic service: Supply, demand, and technological changes
Modern view: Live-in servants are mostly limited to the very wealthy
Recommended media: Downton Abbey, Gosford Park, The Remains of the Day