The Country House Servant

This lavishly illustrated book goes behind the scenes of the pomp and splendor of the English country house to reveal what life was really like for those in domestic service.

History

Sambrook, Pamela A.

Europe

Sutton Pub Ltd

Compiled by experts on the history of food and domestic skills and techniques, this is a comprehensive, fully illustrated survey of how country houses were provided for.

The Country House Kitchen 1650-1900

Cookbooks, Food & Wine

Cooking Education & Reference

One 19th century footman complained about the work involved in drawing more than 40 baths for his household, yet Lady Grenville felt no compunction in describing her footman as a "lazy flunkey". For centuries a large body of domestic servants was an often unappreciated foundation for the smooth running of a household. Today, the warrens of "domestic offices" intrigue visitors. This book makes sense of these and the social structures behind them. It describes the skills, equipment, cleaning methods and work organization of the housemaid, laundrymaid, footman, valet and hall-boy - the servants who spent their days polishing fine furniture, and washing brilliant chandeliers, but also sponging filthy riding habits, and washing babies' nappies. The author also looks at how servants spent their leisure time. One footman enjoyed rowing on the lake every morning before work, while others had to sit up late at night sewing their own work-dresses. Contemporary manuals, diaries, accounts and first hand recollections provide a vivid insight into what life was really like for those in domestic service. A wealth of photographs, engravings and panels illustrate the domestic workings of country houses, many now looked after by the National Trust. This is an absorbing book for social historians and visitors to country houses alike.

Parenting & Relationships

The kitchen was very much the heart of the home in country houses the length and breadth of Britain. Although this hive of activity was kept behind closed doors and often hidden away in the bowels of vast mansions, these rooms ensured that the house and those who lived in it were provisioned. Country houses were formerly self-sufficient to an incredible degree, requiring a range of purpose-built accommodation for food storage and a hierarchy of servants with unique skills.From brewing and baking through to distilling, working in the dairy and even ice-storage, this book offers an intimate look at the ingenuity and creativity that kept these kitchens running smoothly. It also explores the evolution of the kitchen range, cooking techniques, vessels and gadgets and the kitchen staff who used them, as well as the relationship between kitchen, servery and dining room.This book is a must-read for anyone interested in food, history and country houses, revealing how, above and below stairs, good food was always on the table.

Brears,Peter

The History Press

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Books by Sambrook, Pamela A.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sambrook, Pamela A.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Country House Servant

The Country House Kitchen 1650-1900

The Country House Servant

The Country House Kitchen 1650-1900