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