A Short Guide to Domestic Servants

The Steward

The steward is in charge of household and estate management. He is not considered a servant in the conventional sense, and is the trusted right hand of the master or mistress.

The Butler

The butler is the principal male servant. His duties include arranging the dining table, carving the meat, serving the wine and attending to the needs of the family and their guests in the dining and drawing rooms. The silverware, cellars and pantries are in his charge.

The Housekeeper

The housekeeper is the principal female servant, and second in command to the butler. She is in charge of the accounts, the tradesmen’s bills, the orderly running of the house and the provision of general supplies. She is also responsible for the servants’ quarters.

The Valet

The valet attends the master of the household. His duties include keeping his master’s wardrobe in order, preparing his bath, shaving him and tidying his dressing room.

The Lady’s Maid

The lady’s maid waits on the mistress of the household, assisting with her dress and toilette, washing the most delicate items of her wardrobe and using her dressmaking skills to create and repair clothes. In addition, the lady’s maid prepares beauty lotions, and styles her mistress’s hair.

The Footman

The footman sets the table for meals and assists the butler, answers the door and attends to various other tasks in the house, such as lighting candles and lamps, polishing silver and cleaning shoes and boots.

The Housemaids

There are several housemaid positions, including parlour maids, chambermaids and laundry maids. Each has their own set of duties, such as lighting fires, bringing up hot water for washing, emptying and cleaning chamber pots, cleaning all the public rooms of the house, making beds, brushing carpets and beating rugs, and washing clothes and linen.

The Cook and Kitchen Maids

The cook is responsible for the kitchen and the provision of meals. She will not do any general cleaning, and her ingredients will mostly be prepared for her by her kitchen maids. Their duties also include lighting the kitchen fires early in the morning.

The Hall Boy

As the lowest ranked male servant, the hall boy’s duties include emptying chamber pots for the higher-ranking servants, running errands and cleaning boots.

The Coachman

The stables are supervised by the coachman who also drives the coach, assisted by the groom and stable boy who also look after the horses.