Downstairs in Downton: a guide to the life of an Edwardian servant
Everyday life for a domestic servant in Edwardian townhouses was often far removed from the splendour of their surroundings…
![The cast of Downton Abbey in front of Highclere Castle. (Image by Alamy) The cast of Downton Abbey in front of Highclere Castle](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/7/2019/09/FKGJGP-1142cfa.jpg?quality=90&resize=980,654)
The Edwardian period in Britain was a time when society still closely resembled that of the Victorian age with clear class divides, but it was also a transformative time.
In 1911, there were more than 1.3 million people (mainly women) employed as domestic servants in Britain – compared to 1.2 million working in agriculture and around 971,000 coal miners.
The upstairs/downstairs world of Downton Abbey: how true to life is it?
How much do the relationships on screen reflect the real sensibilities of the Edwardian period and the interwar years – and how do they serve as a reflection of our own perceptions of early 20th century history?
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The upper classes could afford to have housemaids, cooks and butler to ensure their homes ran efficiently, with minimal effort from the family. A typical Edwardian townhouse would include accommodation for servants who would live alongside the family they served.
Find out more with our infographic guide to life ‘downstairs’ in a typical Edwardian house…
Read more about the history behind Downton Abbey here
This infographic first appeared in BBC History Revealed magazine
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