Downton Abbey is back!�Huzzah!�The second series begins this Sunday (18th September). �To get you in the mood, here are some fascinating, juicy facts about life below stairs ?
�Did you know??
- 'Virgin's wing' was the name often given to the maids' corridor (underlining just how keen employers were to prevent fraternization between their servants!)
- William or James was the generic name given to every footman in the household
- A taller footman commanded a higher salary as they�looked better in livery. A premium might be paid�for a 'matching pair' of similar stature and appearance
- Lady's maids were expected to be young: if they were still�employed in their mid-twenties, salaries actually decreased
- Senior staff were often known as 'pugs' and their dining�room as the Pugs' Parlour'
- In the early days of vacuum cleaners, some ladies insisted�their maids bring the sucked-up dirt to be weighed,�expecting 'about a cup and a half per room'
- A form of middle class anorexia was rife. Mistresses often starved themselves and scrimped on essentials, but in this case it was in order to save money to employ more servants to give the illusion of wealth
Life Below Stairs: True Lives of Edwardian Servants by Alison Maloney (�9.99, Michael O'Mara Books) is out now.��
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