The duties of a housekeeper: kitchen and laundry accounts

Housekeeper’s account book from Swynnerton, the residence of the Fitzherbert family, Lords Stafford, 1819.

The housekeeper of a large house would have been responsible for all the purchases and home-produced supplies relating to the kitchen, the management of the female cooking and serving staff and the arrangement of laundry services, which would be undertaken by local women unless there was a laundry on-site. These accounts show a mixture of sums paid for casual kitchen, laundry and needle-work, as well as purchases of kitchen supplies. They include large quantities of fish, reflecting the fact that the Fitzherberts remained a devout Catholic family, despite the political and religious turmoil of previous centuries. Lent started during this period shown (Ash Wednesday was 24th February), and no meat would have been consumed before Easter.

This housekeeper was called Mrs Smith, and she worked up to the day of her death on 11 February 1821, as indicated by a comment later in the accounts.

Return to menu page