Read Online The Real Life Downton Abbey by Jacky Hyams - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jacky Hyams
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THE VALET
The valet is, like the lady’s maid, a personal servant, dedicated entirely to the personal appearance of his master. He waits on him when his master is dressing and undressing, brushing his master’s hair, cutting it if necessary and shaving him, too. He folds up all his master’s clothes, brushes them and lays them out in readiness for him to wear, according to custom and time of day, after making sure they have been suitably aired before wearing. (Since both aristocratic men and women change clothes frequently throughout the course of the day, his duties are as onerous as any other servant, especially when guests are in the house and the activities of the day involve outdoor pursuits.)
It is the valet’s responsibility to look after all clothing or footwear repairs if needed and to put the clothes away in the appropriate fitted cupboards or wardrobes.
His master’s clothes are always protected from dust or dirt with brown Holland (a heavy, plain linen unbleached cloth, also used for blinds) and other linen wrappers. On sunny days, wardrobes are left wide open in order to air them. One wardrobe contains just shirts and underclothes, other cupboards contain different types of outdoor clothing: some aristocrats might have more than 60 suits to be looked after so there is always plenty of room to store the clothes. Expensive silk pyjamas, often embroidered with the family crest, are perfectly folded and kept in a tallboy with several drawers. (The valet also needs to be an expert packer and folder of clothes; everything must be folded in perfect symmetry.)
The valet checks his master’s boots and shoes (usually cleaned by an under footman) before setting them out in the dressing room. While a housemaid cleans the grate, lights the fire and sweeps and dusts the room, the valet is busy preparing the washing-table, arranging the shaving apparatus, running his master’s bath (if the house is not plumbed for hot running water, a lower servant will bring up the hot water required for washing).
Then, after his boss has gone down to breakfast, he dries the razor, washes any hairbrushes or combs thoroughly in warm water, and empties and dries the hand basin. Because of the personal nature of his work, he sometimes has quite a close relationship with his boss. One rung above the head footman, one rung below the butler, he may well be a recipient of his master’s confidences; John Bates (played by Brendan Coyle in Downton Abbey ) who had previously worked as the Earl of Grantham’s batman during the Boer War, is typical of a reliable valet’s diligence and loyalty, acquired over years of working his way up the servant hierarchy.
THE LADY’S MAID
The lady’s maid is directly hired by the mistress of the house, and reports to her rather than the housekeeper. As a result, her position with the rest of the staff is somewhat tricky; many of the lower servants dislike her and worry that she will snoop around and tell tales on them. This can sometimes make her feel a bit isolated, and although she has some privileges the lowers never enjoy, at the end of the day she is very much a servant.
As a dresser, escort to her mistress and personal servant, a lady’s maid needs many skills, particularly sewing, because she is responsible for all the care of her mistress’s clothing, including all repairs of garments and hats; she can even be a substitute for the dressmaker or local seamstress at times. She also, like the valet, needs to be an expert packer because she accompanies her mistress on her travels.
A lady’s maid also needs to be able to read and write well, be very neat and clean in appearance, cheerful and pleasant in demeanour and, above all, honest: she has to handle and take care of all her mistress’s expensive clothes, her jewel box and many other valuable items. Like the butler and valet, she needs to be discreet about what she hears and sees around her. If she does indulge in
THE VALET
The valet is, like the lady’s maid, a personal servant, dedicated entirely to the personal appearance of his master. He waits on him when his master is dressing and undressing, brushing his master’s hair, cutting it if necessary and shaving him, too. He folds up all his master’s clothes, brushes them and lays them out in readiness for him to wear, according to custom and time of day, after making sure they have been suitably aired before wearing. (Since both aristocratic men and women change clothes frequently throughout the course of the day, his duties are as onerous as any other servant, especially when guests are in the house and the activities of the day involve outdoor pursuits.)
It is the valet’s responsibility to look after all clothing or footwear repairs if needed and to put the clothes away in the appropriate fitted cupboards or wardrobes.
His master’s clothes are always protected from dust or dirt with brown Holland (a heavy, plain linen unbleached cloth, also used for blinds) and other linen wrappers. On sunny days, wardrobes are left wide open in order to air them. One wardrobe contains just shirts and underclothes, other cupboards contain different types of outdoor clothing: some aristocrats might have more than 60 suits to be looked after so there is always plenty of room to store the clothes. Expensive silk pyjamas, often embroidered with the family crest, are perfectly folded and kept in a tallboy with several drawers. (The valet also needs to be an expert packer and folder of clothes; everything must be folded in perfect symmetry.)
The valet checks his master’s boots and shoes (usually cleaned by an under footman) before setting them out in the dressing room. While a housemaid cleans the grate, lights the fire and sweeps and dusts the room, the valet is busy preparing the washing-table, arranging the shaving apparatus, running his master’s bath (if the house is not plumbed for hot running water, a lower servant will bring up the hot water required for washing).
Then, after his boss has gone down to breakfast, he dries the razor, washes any hairbrushes or combs thoroughly in warm water, and empties and dries the hand basin. Because of the personal nature of his work, he sometimes has quite a close relationship with his boss. One rung above the head footman, one rung below the butler, he may well be a recipient of his master’s confidences; John Bates (played by Brendan Coyle in Downton Abbey ) who had previously worked as the Earl of Grantham’s batman during the Boer War, is typical of a reliable valet’s diligence and loyalty, acquired over years of working his way up the servant hierarchy.
THE LADY’S MAID
The lady’s maid is directly hired by the mistress of the house, and reports to her rather than the housekeeper. As a result, her position with the rest of the staff is somewhat tricky; many of the lower servants dislike her and worry that she will snoop around and tell tales on them. This can sometimes make her feel a bit isolated, and although she has some privileges the lowers never enjoy, at the end of the day she is very much a servant.
As a dresser, escort to her mistress and personal servant, a lady’s maid needs many skills, particularly sewing, because she is responsible for all the care of her mistress’s clothing, including all repairs of garments and hats; she can even be a substitute for the dressmaker or local seamstress at times. She also, like the valet, needs to be an expert packer because she accompanies her mistress on her travels.
A lady’s maid also needs to be able to read and write well, be very neat and clean in appearance, cheerful and pleasant in demeanour and, above all, honest: she has to handle and take care of all her mistress’s expensive clothes, her jewel box and many other valuable items. Like the butler and valet, she needs to be discreet about what she hears and sees around her. If she does indulge in
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