It was a beautiful day last Tuesday, dry and sunny. We went to Shugborough Hall near Stafford to have a look around. Mostly the grounds and gardens but we did pop into the Servant's Quarters. I always enjoy those parts of any stately home the most.
The front of the Mansion House taken from the walk across parkland from the car park.
Southdown Sheep and lambs, a tiny one had escaped and staff were trying to get it back into the fold. Apparently Southdown sheep first arrived at Shugborough in 1700, given as a wedding present.
The River Sow flows through the estate at Shugborough on it's way to meet the River Trent somewhere near the Essex Bridge.
An old boat house close to the river.
The facade of the Servant's Quarters. Bluebells in front and Wisteria growing on it's walls.
Inside the parlour where the various house servants would have their meals. The butler at at the top of the table.
Each plate had a name of a servant who had worked there according to the 1871 Census. Their yearly wage on the plate. The butler John Crisp earned £100 a year and one of the housemaids Jane Thurman earned £18 a year.
There is a huge laundry area, two rooms one for washing and the other for ironing, sewing and mending.
Flat irons and goffering irons which were used for ruffles.
Dresses for the servants. Laundry maids wore blue and kitchen maids wore pink. This enabled the housekeeper to spot if a maid was in an area she shouldn't be in.
The kitchens are across a large courtyard.
Everything looked spick and span.
The chef cooked meals for the occupants of the Mansion House whilst other kitchen workers cooked for the houshold servants and staff.
It wasn't the first time we'd visited Shugborough and I hope it won't be the last. Each visit we find new things to admire. One of my favourite buildings The Farmhouse was closed to visitors as were the Lichfield Apartments in the Mansion House. Everything else was as I remembered.
We live quite close to Shugborough and visit often, it was a godsend during Covid. My Mum worked as a tour guide there during the 1970's and often spoke to Patrick Lichfield, who she said was a real charmer and a terrible flirt! Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Gill. I bet being able to walk there during Covid was great as there is plenty of space and lots of fresh air. How wonderful to work there and super to have those memories. We once saw Parick Lichfield walking on the Ladywalk with one of his gardeners, he raised his walking stick, smiled and said Good Morning, not long before he was taken ill:)
DeleteA lovely post Rosie. I've been to Shugborough once years and years ago to help out with a school trip from my daughter's primary school. I liked what i saw and seeing your post has made me want to return. The kitchen quarters look very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you Caroline, it is well worth a visit, so much has changed since we first visited probably 20 years ago. Car parking, the way you walk to the Mansion House. The county museum that used to be there has gone now but everything is still very interesting, especially for me the servant's quarters and the farmyard and house:)
DeleteThank you for posting this, Rosie. There is a lot of inspiration at Shugborough for our own doll house project. We have been several times to the Hall but I feel another visit could be coming soon. Have a good rest of the week and enjoy the sunshine.
ReplyDeleteThank you Beverley. Yes, I can see from your last post about your lovely house that visiting Shugborough would give you loads of ideas and inspiration. We have been enjoying the sunshine,Have a lovely week:)
DeleteThese big houses are interesting because you learn a lot about a way of life 'below stairs' that hardly exists except for wealthy individuals. I wish you a good day Rosie.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda, yes it's a way of life that no longer exists but so fascinating. I remember all the washday items at my grandma's house, on a much smaller scale of course, even in the 50s. Enjoy the rest of the week:)
DeleteSo beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the post:)
DeleteGreat photos Rosie of a very interesting place. It's such a large property, you need to go back a number of times to see all the details. I remember stopping there for a short break on the way up North years ago and I think there was quite a walk to find everything so we were there a lot longer than we'd intended! I love all those copper pots and can imagine the important French Chef creating his delicacies and everyone treading carefully around him! It's a good year for wisteria. 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you CK. Yes, it is huge, it seems to take ages to get up the long drive and into the car park, also the grounds and follies as well as the island arboretum which we didn't attempt this time. Yes, you can imagine the staff especially the younger maids being slightly in awe of him. The wisteria was gorgeous, but seems a little early to flower this year?:)
DeleteThe facade of the aervants quarters! It's huge. Certainly they did everything on a grand scale! I would really enjoy a visit there. Especially the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteThank you Granny Sue. Yes the servants' quarters are large and imposing on the outside as visitors passed them on their way up to the Mansion House. I always enjoy the kitchens and 'downstairs' areas in these places:)
DeleteWhat a perfect place to visit. I love the behind the scenes area of a big house. Imagining how the lowly classes would have lived. B x
ReplyDeleteThank you B, it is a lovely place to visit and we should really go more often as it isn't far away. Like you, the working areas of a big house are more interesting as some of my ancestors were in service, although not in such large houses:)
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