Upstairs, Downstairs
The Pre-War Years 1

165 Eaton Place was a house divided - upstairs, in the central floors, all was spacious elegance for the family. Downstairs it was bare, scrubbed and crowded. In Edwardian days, the Bellamys could run eight servants for a total wage bill of about £200 a year. A maid like Rose could expect to earn £20 a year. The days were long, the work hard, and the time off limited. Nevertheless, servants' jobs offered security from the outside world and many remained in service all of their lives.

Emily was Mrs Bridges' mouse-like kitchen-maid. At 17, her £14-a-year pay was low and her prospects were few. Nevertheless, in 1907, she set her heart on marrying William, the flashy footman of one of the Bellamys' lady visitors. William's employer forbade him to see Emily again and Emily, heartbroken and humiliated, hanged herself in her tiny attic room.

Lady Marjorie leant back in her chair and smiled to herself at the thought of Hudson's face. He never could conceal his emotions which was one of the reasons he would never gain promotion to a grander establishment. Silly old Hudson; sometimes he maddened her by his obstinacy and his slowness, but she wouldn't have changed him. He was loyal and honest and only drank in moderation and that was saying quite a lot for any butler. (John Hawkesworth from the novelisation of Season One).

Elizabeth runs away from her debut ball in The Path of Duty - the Bellamys contemplate what to do. (Although this and some other early episodes were shot in black and white, colour on-set publicity photographs like this one were taken).

Mrs Bridges with the baby she stole in Why is Her Door Locked? Richard tried unsuccessfully to circumvent the police by returning the baby to the parents himself and offering a bribe to try to secure their silence.

Rose built up a close friendship with the Bellamy's daughter Elizabeth, putting aside the usual servant/master formalities, though Elizabeth's unconventional behaviour often shocked Rose. Here Rose hastily finds her something to wear after Elizabeth takes to sleeping in the nude!