English Learning for Curious Minds

#408 | Upstairs, Downstairs: The Lives of British Servants

10.05.2023 - By Leonardo EnglishPlay

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It was at one point the most popular job in Britain, surpassing professions such as coal mining and factory work.  

In this episode, we'll be talking about the servant class, the hierarchy of different types of servants, and the decline of household service in Britain. 

Most popular job in Britain: Household service in 1901

Reasons for high servant numbers: Supply and demand factors

Experiences of female servants were generally worse

Hierarchy among servants: Butler and housekeeper at the top

Decline of domestic service: Supply, demand, and technological changes

Modern view: Live-in servants are mostly limited to the very wealthy

Recommended media: Downton Abbey, Gosford Park, The Remains of the Day

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/british-servants-lives

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