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Great House Staff
This is an umbrella project to help organise the occupations of those employed in Great Houses. It is not for adding profiles to but for guiding you to the appropriate project or projects to add profiles.
A great house is a large house or mansion with luxurious appointments and great retinues of indoor and outdoor staff, especially those of the turn of the 20th century (i.e., the late Victorian or Edwardian era in the United Kingdom and the Gilded Age in the United States). Examples include the English country house, the "stately homes of England" and the homes of various "millionaires' row" (or "millionaires' mile") in some U.S. cities such as Newport, Rhode Island. In Ireland, the term big house is usual for the houses of the Anglo-Irish ascendancy.[2][3][4] By some reports, the summer homes of the wealthy at Newport averaged four servants per family member. There was often an elaborate hierarchy among staff, domestic workers in particular.
It was considered declassé to refer to one's own townhouses, estates or villas (or those of friends) as mansions and modern etiquette books still advise that the terms house, big house or great house be used instead
Management
On large estates or in families with more than one residence, there may be a steward (or the modern equivalent, an estate manager) who oversees direction of the entire establishment. Today, it is not uncommon for a couple to split the duties of management between them.
The head of the household is not the butler - it is the house manager - An estate manager manages more than one property, and usually has financial and managerial background.
Butler
The head of household staff in most homes; in charge of the pantry, wine cellar and dining room. In a small house the butler also valets for the master of the house. Male staff report to him. The butler is often engaged by the master of the house but usually reports to the lady of the house or sometimes to the housekeeper.
Cook
In charge of the kitchen and kitchen staff. Sometimes a chef is employed with several subordinate cooks. The cook usually reports directly to the lady of the house but sometimes to the housekeeper. If the cook is a woman, she is always addressed as "Mrs," regardless of her marital status.
Housekeeper
Responsible for the house and its appearance; in charge of all female servants, but can sometimes be the lead servant in a household. The housekeeper is always addressed as "Mrs," regardless of her marital status
Support household staff
- Chauffeur
- Companion
- Governess
- Lady's maid Please add to Maids - Great House
- Nanny
- Tutor
- Valet (Gentleman's gentleman)
Junior household staff
- Footman
- Hall boy
Please add the following to Maids - Great House
- Maid
- Between maids (also called Hall girl particularly in the US)
- Chambermaid
- Housemaid
- Kitchen maid
- Laundry maid
- Nursemaid
- Parlourmaid
- Scullery maid
- Still room maid
Separate projects need to be created for:
- Page
- Seamstress
- Useful Man also called houseman
Grounds staff
An Estate Manager may have charge of the maintenance and care of the grounds, landscaping, and outbuildings (pool, cabana, stables, greenhouse etc.) which is divided into departments run by the:
Head Gardener
Please add Head Gardener Profiles to Gardeners, Horticulturists, Nurserymen & Agriculturists project AND Great House - Head Gardeners
Responsible for the grounds around the house; in charge of any additional gardeners or seasonal men and women brought in at times of harvest or planting.
Various titles used for the individual responsible for the keeping of animals, particularly those used for recreational pursuits such as horseback riding, fox hunting or dog fancy: Please add the following to Stable Master, Stud Master, Master of the Hounds
- Stable Master
- Stud Master
- Master of the Hounds
Separate projects for:
Support grounds staff
- Gardeners (add to: Gardeners, Horticulturists, Nurserymen & Agriculturists Project
Add the following to Great House Support Grounds Staff project:
- Groundskeepers
- Stablehands
- Handyman