Moving On and Up

After about three and a half years at the Hall I began to feel that I needed to move on. My ‘Tweeny’ friend had left a few months previous to this and I decided that I would not be able to go above seventh housemaid if I stayed where I was. I handed in my notice. During the month I applied for and got a third housemaids position in another country mansion in Winchester. It was a higher position and of course a larger wage.

At this time there was no shortage of houses needing staff. I really was sad to leave but I knew I had to go up in the world. Everybody had been so good to me and they all gave me farewell gifts.

I got to my new position by train and then a taxi from the station. I was really beginning to wonder if I had done the right thing in moving, if it was so far from my home.

I was taken to the top of the house and shown my room, which I was told, I would normally share, but the other maid was away with the family in London. The room was horrible. I hated it. The only window in the room was in the roof and I couldn’t even see out of it. I was introduced to the rest of the staff and decided then and there that I wasn’t going to like it one little bit but I thought I must give it a try.

My half day off was to be Wednesday and rather than sitting around feeling sorry for myself I thought that I would go to the pictures.

I didn’t know what was on and would have to go on my own but I thought it would take my mind off things. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The film that was showing was Dracula.

I’d never seen anything like it before. I managed to sit through most of it and then decided that I’d better get going home. I forgot that I had to walk up the huge long drive leading to the house. I ran as fast as I could all the way up the drive and didn’t stop until I reached a chair in the staff quarters. I had some supper and slowly climbed the stairs to my room. That night was one of the worst of my young life. All I could do was stare up at the window and imagine all the horrible things that could jump on me from there. My eyes didn’t shut all night and I knew I couldn’t stay there for much longer.

The next morning I approached the Butler and explained how frightened I was.

He was very kind and understood and luckily told me that there was a temporary housemaid who would love to be able to stay on. And so she was offered my position and took if gratefully. I was free to go at the end of the week. Two days to go. I sent a telegram home to my parents just telling them to expect me home in the future, collected my wages and references and got on the train home as happy as a sandbox.