Life Below Stairs in Edwardian England
The popular television series Downton Abbey vividly portrayed what it was like to be a butler, housekeeper, cook, lady’s maid, or a lowlier servant in that great mansion. The series was an inspiration to learn more about servants’ lives in the early 20th century in a world that was as hierarchical as those of their employers and which still relied on Victorian traditions. This survey moves from country houses, including Uppark House in Sussex and Erdigg in Wales, to London townhouses, and from the servants’ dining room to the housekeeper’s own private suite of rooms. Explore servants’ rules, surviving group photographs of servants and employers, and discover the memoirs and diaries that were actually written by below stairs staff.
You'll Walk Away with
- A familiarity with the interiors of England’s well-known country homes and city townhouses
- An understanding of how servants worked and lived in early 20th century England
- Knowledge about the hierarchical structure of English society
Ideal for
- History buffs
- Fans of Downton Abbey
- All members of the community– working, retired, and in between
1 section
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Summer 2025
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Section
001 -
Semester
Summer 2025 -
Date
Jul 10 - Jul 31 -
Day
Thursday -
Time
2:00PM-3:40PM -
Sessions
4 -
Faculty
Brocklesby, Lorella -
Location
Midtown Center
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