Working Weekends

We had such fun on our days off that we seemed to forget all the extra work that we had to do when the family entertained at the weekends.

I was allowed to help the higher up housemaids while the guests were at dinner. We had to go around and tidy up the bedrooms, turn down the bedclothes and lay out all the bed ware.

After this the ‘Tweeny’ and I would meet in the Pantry. Here we would clear the lift of all the plates and dishes and then wash them up. We were not allowed to touch any glassware or any silver. Only the parlour maids were allowed to do this. The ‘Tweeny’ and I really enjoyed these evenings.

We were often passed tit bits and given the fruit left over from the table. It was these evenings that made us realise how lucky we were to come to such a lovely home. To see the table all laid up and the rooms sparkling was a real treat to us coming from small homes.

I had a dream in those days of making my way up the scale to Ladies Maid, and travelling around the world with the mistress.

It did not take me long to realise that to become a Ladies Maid you need to have many things. Firstly and most importantly, you had to know how to speak properly, well that was out for me with my Welsh accent.

Secondly, you had to be a combined hairdresser/needlewoman and thirdly, it helped if you could speak a language. I soon realised how far down the scale I was.