Everyone knows that what happens ‘upstairs’ in a grand house is only part of the story. Quartermaine Hall couldn’t survive without the hard work of its staff, overseen by the formidable trio of the butler Mr Willoughby, the housekeeper Mrs Baxter, and the cook Mrs Trescothick. Between them, they keep the home fires burning (often literally), ensuring that there is always hot water, hot food, and clean linen for the Quartermaines and their guests.
Once you’ve explored the servants’ quarters to your heart’s content, head upstairs to the Ground Floor, take in the Music Room, Library or Museum on the First Floor, peek into the family bedrooms on the Second Floor, have a look at the Nursery on the Third Floor, or find out more about the servants in their bedrooms in the Attics.
Tucked away beyond the kitchen, this is the nerve-centre of the servants’ quarters. Water is boiled, crockery washed, and messy jobs kept well out of the cook’s eyeline
Domain of Mrs Trescothick, the cook, this is a gleaming hub of copper cookware, fragrant cooking, and neat tiled floors
A storehouse of wonderful ingredients, from jars and glass bottles to hanging haunches of meat, and baskets of vegetables
A haven for relaxation at the end of a busy day, with a long table ready for communal meals and a variety of decorative stoneware to give the place a homely feel
The throne room of this downstairs domain, from which Mr Willoughby the butler scrutinises his staff, overseen by a portrait of Queen Victoria
Mr Willoughby has no authority here, as it’s the realm of Mrs Baxter the housekeeper: a place of calm, sage advice, and frequent cups of tea
Quartermaine Hall 