dddDrPamelaCoxlooksatthegrandhousesoftheVictorianrulingelite-largecountryestatesdependentonanarmyofstafftoilingawaybelowstairs.TheVictoriansusheredinanewidealofservitude-whereloyal,selflessservantsweredepersonalisedstereotypeswithstandardiseduniforms,hairstylesandevengenericnamesdenotingposition.IntheimmaculatelypreservedroomsofErddiginNorthWales,portraitsofservantslikeloyalhousekeeperMrsWebsterhintatanaffectionaterelationshipbetweenfamilyandservants,buttherealityformostwasquitedifferent.Inotherstatelyhomes,hiddenpassageskeptservantsseparatefromthefamily.Anonymity,invisibilityandsegregationwereacrucialpartoftheirgruellingjob-andthestrictservanthierarchyevenkept
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