The First Footman: Daily Duties

Morning Duties

• You must rise at half-past six and wash and dress in your full morning livery.

• You must wake the Butler at seven o'clock in the morning by bringing him a cup of tea and warm water to wash with.

• At half-past seven you must collect the linen and china from the Housekeeper and the plate from the Butler for laying the Breakfast table in the Dining Room. The Second Footman will assist you.

• At eight o'clock you must wake the eldest son with tea and thin slices of bread and butter, when he is at home.

• Breakfast is served in the Servants' Hall at a quarter-past eight.

• At half-past eight you must act as valet, running a bath, preparing clothes for and shaving the eldest Son, when he is at home.

• You must be back in the Dining Room just after nine o'clock so that the Butler has time to inspect the Breakfast table and you can make any adjustments before Morning Prayers at a quarter-past nine.

• It is compulsory for all members of Staff to attend Morning prayers in the Main Hall at a quarter-past nine. You should be attired in your full morning livery.

• Your duties resume at half-past nine when you must wait on the Family at Breakfast. Occasionally, the Family will decide to serve themselves, and you must remain on call, listening at the Dining Room door in case they require anything to be brought from the Kitchen. Where the Family does decide to serve their own Breakfast you must ensure that all the Breakfast dishes are laid out on the sideboard for them to make their selections.

• You must clear the table after the Family's Breakfast. The Housemaids are responsible for cleaning the china and you and the Second Footman are responsible for cleaning the glass and plate. Remember to cover your fine livery with an apron before you commence any cleaning duties of this kind.

• At ten o'clock, the Butler will see that the glass and plate is checked back undamaged.

• Even when you are occupied with cleaning duties you remain on call to answer the door to visitors or to go out in the carriage. For both these tasks you must be attired in your full morning livery.

• When accompanying the carriage on visits no "furious arriving" is permitted. Small sharp knocks to the door are preferred to exaggerated behaviour which brings no credit to the Family.

• At eleven o'clock precisely tea is served in the Servants' Hall. The Butler will have just had his daily meeting with the Master of the house, so you should await any specific orders from him.

• At a quarter-past eleven you must resume your duties. You must collect the china and linen for the Luncheon table from the Housekeeper and the plate from the Butler so that you can lay the Dining room table.

• At Midday Dinner in served in the Servants' Hall.

Afternoon Duties

• You must attend the Butler's inspection of the Family's Luncheon table at a quarter-to one, so that you have time to make any alterations he feels are required.

• At one o'clock you and the Butler will serve Luncheon to the Family in the Dining Room, possibly with the assistance of the Second Footman depending upon how many people are dining.

• You are responsible for clearing the table after the Family's Luncheon and cleaning the glass and plate as before with the assistance of the Second Footman. The glass and plate should be checked back undamaged by the Butler.

• The duty for answering the door in the afternoon is to be organised by the Butler on a rotation basis between himself, yourself and the Second Footman. This will allow each of you a certain amount of leisure time between half-past two and four o'clock. However, you must always be available for duty should any Family members require you to run errands or accompany them on visits, or coach rides.

• Tea is served in the Servants' Hall at four o'clock.

• At five o'clock you or the Second Footman must bring Afternoon Tea to the Family in the Drawing room, they may require you to serve them, or prefer to serve themselves. In either instance you must remain in attendance should they require any further assistance.

• After tea you must clean and put away any glass or plate used, with again the Butler checking that it is return undamaged. You must then change into your full evening livery.

• At six o'clock you should collect the table linen and china from the Housekeeper, and plate from the Butler so that you can lay the table for Dinner. The Butler will assist you to fold the Dinner napkins.

• At seven o'clock you must act as Valet to the eldest son when he is at home, before attending the Butler's inspection of the Dinner table at a quarter-to eight.

• At eight o'clock you must wait on the Family at Dinner. You must clear the table after Dinner and clean the plate and glass, under the Butler's supervision. He will check to see that everything has been returned, undamaged.

• Supper is served in the Servants' Hall at half-past nine.

• Unless the Family have any further requirements, the remaining part of the evening can be spent at your leisure.