July 9

Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor (1975)
By Rosina Harrison

The great houses of Newport, as well as the country houses of England, depended on armies of servants to keep them spotless and running smoothly.  Much has been written about the lives of the wealthy men and women who owned these palatial homes, but not so much about those who worked behind the scenes. Rose's account provides a good window through which to view  their lives.

Rose was born into desperate poverty in late 19th century Great Britain.  As the oldest child born into a rural family, her chores included washing, cooking,  and setting the fires; there was never enough food to go around.  Working as a servant would mean a warm bed, a roof over her head, and plenty to eat.  Starting as a washer woman in a local business, Rose worked at a number of positions, working her way up to be lady's maid to Lady Nancy Astor.  While Rose recalls that her lady could be very temperamental and difficult, she still became Lady Astor's maid, confidante, and friend for 35 years.

Many of us had an ancestor who came from Great Britain to America to work as a "domestic".  Although Rose chose to remain in the UK, she served an important role in the life of her country's first female MP.