What was life like for Victorian maids?

What was life like for Victorian maids?

They worked a long, exhausting day, typically rising at 5 am and not getting to bed until midnight. A popular saying of the time was ‘those who would thrive, must rise by five’. They often had to sleep in the kitchen or basement away from the family and alone.

What did a Victorian house maid do?

A kitchen maid in Victorian England was also called a scullery maid and performed the most strenuous tasks in the kitchen such as mopping, scouring surfaces, and cleaning dishes.

How were servants treated in the Victorian era?

The mistreatment of servants was commonplace, and young maids were especially vulnerable to being sexually exploited. Once hired, they found themselves in households in which a strict and unbreachable hierarchy below stairs ensured that they stayed on the lowest rung of that society.

What was life like for servants in the 1800s?

In the early 1800s, servants slept in the kitchen or in cupboards under the stairs. Later in the century, they were given the attics as bedrooms, which were cold, damp and dimly lit. Often, however, men continued to sleep downstairs to guard the plate.

What did servants eat in Victorian times?

For breakfast, the servants ate bread and meat, the meat carved by the cook from the previous day’s roast or served in a slice of cold pie. Alternatively, they ate porridge, followed by bacon and eggs.

How many hours did Victorian servants work?

They had the most gruelling job of all, as they had to do all the chores for the house, often working from 6 in the morning until 10 at night, with very little time off.

What are maid dresses made of?

French maid costumes are made of various materials such as latex and pvc as described above. They are also more commonly made of polyester, nylon, satin and silk. Maid costumes are usually short in length and with pretty lace drawstrings across the bust and with the white apron tied around the waist.