Upper Staff
Butler Status: Taken
The highest ranking official servant. Responsible for running
the house, employing staff members and ensuring that the Master's life runs as smoothly as possible. Here the butler has added duties that include paying the bills, making important business choices when the Master is abcent and acting as the Master's personal Valet.
Head Housekeeper Status: Open
Responsible for the maid staff and maintaining the house's furnishings.
Cook or Chef Status: Taken
In charge of the kitchen staff and responsible for preparing
the family's meals. (An under cook would prepare meals for him
and the staff.)
Lady's Maid Status: Taken
Their main job is to be a private servant for the lady of the house: assisting them with dressing, caring for their cloths, being a general companion and even performing secretarial duties. They were hired
by the Lady and Master of the house rather than by the butler.
Spy Status: Taken
Though not a real position in a typical victorian home the spy works closely with the Master and does most of his dirty work.
Lower Staff
Head Footman Status: Taken
Next in line to replace the butler. His main job was to well mannered 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.
Footman Status: Open
Additional male staff for opening doors, waiting at table,
assisting gentleman or accompanying ladies as needed.
Chaimber Maid Status: Open
Responsible for cleaning bedrooms. I imagine they were slightly higher than parlour maids because chamber
maids were in more intimate contact with the family, or at least the remnants of their presence.
Parlour Maid Status: Open
Responsible for cleaning and maintaining the sitting rooms, drawing rooms,
etc. of the house.
House Maid Status: Open
General purpose worker.
Under Cook Status: Open
Apprentice to the chef. Prepares meals for the staff. Worked for low wages to work his way up to a full chef's job.
Kitchen Maid Status: Open
Assists in kitchen work.
Scullery Maid/Laundry Maid Status: Open
Washing, ironing, doing dishes.
Page or Tea Boy Status: Open
Apprentice footman. Typically 10 to 16 years old.
Stable Master Status: Taken
Responsible for running the stables. Positionally he might rank
as upper staff but because he wasn't part of the inside staff
he didn't have their privileges. However, as master of his own
staff he undoubtedly occupied a similar status.
Groom Status: Open
Cared for horses: grooming, saddling, etc.
Stable Boy Status: Open
Cleaned stables and etc. Many times they
started when they were only 10.
Head Gardener Status: Open
Like the head groom the head gardener was management and
therefor upper staff, yet his position outside the house prohibited him from occupying a position in the house's upper
servant's. Also like the stable master his position of authority
had its compensations. Because a grand estate's grounds were
as important to impressing guests as the chef's skill, the head
gardener could earn a very high wage.
Grounds Keeper Status: Open
The general laborers under the head gardener. They'd do everythingfrom planting trees to cutting grass or doing repairs on the mansion.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Governess/Nanny Status: Taken
I'm listing governesses as a separate category because they
existed in a kind of social limbo. Typically they were unmarried
daughters of gentlemen who for one reason or another had to
go into service to support themselves. Because they officially
belonged to the genteel class it would be unspeakable for them
to accept service as a maid. As a governess they were able
to make use of their education and in theory retain a little of
their dignity. In reality their lives were miserable. They were looked down on by the house's family as being from a failed family. Their job is to look after the family's young chilred and then teenaged girls. (Teenage males
were sent off to boarding school.) I found no references that clearly stated whether they were considered upper or lower staff.
Butler Status: Taken
The highest ranking official servant. Responsible for running
the house, employing staff members and ensuring that the Master's life runs as smoothly as possible. Here the butler has added duties that include paying the bills, making important business choices when the Master is abcent and acting as the Master's personal Valet.
Head Housekeeper Status: Open
Responsible for the maid staff and maintaining the house's furnishings.
Cook or Chef Status: Taken
In charge of the kitchen staff and responsible for preparing
the family's meals. (An under cook would prepare meals for him
and the staff.)
Lady's Maid Status: Taken
Their main job is to be a private servant for the lady of the house: assisting them with dressing, caring for their cloths, being a general companion and even performing secretarial duties. They were hired
by the Lady and Master of the house rather than by the butler.
Spy Status: Taken
Though not a real position in a typical victorian home the spy works closely with the Master and does most of his dirty work.
Lower Staff
Head Footman Status: Taken
Next in line to replace the butler. His main job was to well mannered 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.
Footman Status: Open
Additional male staff for opening doors, waiting at table,
assisting gentleman or accompanying ladies as needed.
Chaimber Maid Status: Open
Responsible for cleaning bedrooms. I imagine they were slightly higher than parlour maids because chamber
maids were in more intimate contact with the family, or at least the remnants of their presence.
Parlour Maid Status: Open
Responsible for cleaning and maintaining the sitting rooms, drawing rooms,
etc. of the house.
House Maid Status: Open
General purpose worker.
Under Cook Status: Open
Apprentice to the chef. Prepares meals for the staff. Worked for low wages to work his way up to a full chef's job.
Kitchen Maid Status: Open
Assists in kitchen work.
Scullery Maid/Laundry Maid Status: Open
Washing, ironing, doing dishes.
Page or Tea Boy Status: Open
Apprentice footman. Typically 10 to 16 years old.
Stable Master Status: Taken
Responsible for running the stables. Positionally he might rank
as upper staff but because he wasn't part of the inside staff
he didn't have their privileges. However, as master of his own
staff he undoubtedly occupied a similar status.
Groom Status: Open
Cared for horses: grooming, saddling, etc.
Stable Boy Status: Open
Cleaned stables and etc. Many times they
started when they were only 10.
Head Gardener Status: Open
Like the head groom the head gardener was management and
therefor upper staff, yet his position outside the house prohibited him from occupying a position in the house's upper
servant's. Also like the stable master his position of authority
had its compensations. Because a grand estate's grounds were
as important to impressing guests as the chef's skill, the head
gardener could earn a very high wage.
Grounds Keeper Status: Open
The general laborers under the head gardener. They'd do everythingfrom planting trees to cutting grass or doing repairs on the mansion.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Governess/Nanny Status: Taken
I'm listing governesses as a separate category because they
existed in a kind of social limbo. Typically they were unmarried
daughters of gentlemen who for one reason or another had to
go into service to support themselves. Because they officially
belonged to the genteel class it would be unspeakable for them
to accept service as a maid. As a governess they were able
to make use of their education and in theory retain a little of
their dignity. In reality their lives were miserable. They were looked down on by the house's family as being from a failed family. Their job is to look after the family's young chilred and then teenaged girls. (Teenage males
were sent off to boarding school.) I found no references that clearly stated whether they were considered upper or lower staff.
