Manor House
"If I'd been born 100 years ago a woman of my class would almost certainly have been in service. And I'd like to know what that meant." Antonia, kitchen maid
THE PROJECT|THE HOUSE|THE PEOPLE|EDWARDIAN LIFE|YOU IN 1905|TREATS|SNOB QUIZ
A collection of archived photographs

You are a Housekeeper!
- A Snapshot of your life as it might have been in 1905

Education
You go to elementary school until you're 8 when your parents take you out to teach you themselves.

Career Prospects
When you're young, you work in a large house on the outskirts of the city. You start off as a housemaid, becoming a ladies maid and at the age of 30, you are taken on as a housekeeper. As housekeeper, pay is poor and work is hard. There are three meals a day to cook and you must make sure all the other chores get done: endless fires to clear and relay, grates to black lead and polish, oil lamps to be cleaned and trimmed.

Leisure Time
You live near enough to your family to visit them on your occasional days off. You enjoy nothing more than a bit of your mothers' cooking and catching up on gossip from your father who's a butler in a large house in the area.

Living Conditions
You're grateful for the security of your job and for free board and lodging, but work is often lonely and you're tired of keeping the housemaid and the scullery maid in line.

Marital Relations
At the age of 32 (which is late compared to your contemporaries), you marry a man who works in a shop. You move in together, but carry on working for the same family, visiting by the day. You don't see your husband very much as you're both working long hours.

World War One
When World War One starts the family aren't able to afford to keep you in service so you have to find a new job, doing household chores for a family three days a week. After the war your husband returns safely to the same line of business. You live into your late sixties.

Position in Society

Position in society
Further up Your life as it might have been further UP or DOWN society's ladder.
Further down
Position in society Position in society

Other Possible Occupations
Engineering factory worker, Clothing worker, Tobacco worker, Paper mill worker, Glover, Upholsterer

General Statistics

  • In 1901, 85 percent of women over 45 were either married or widowed
  • In 1911, almost half of all illegitimate children were born to women in service
  • 'Unemployable' women would often end up at the workhouse, or as prostitutes

Background to You in 1905