Floor plans... the final chapter!
Down into the lower ground of the one day Stewards Quarters!
Right then folks… you’ve had the tour of the main house, it’s now time to head downstairs and soak up the intriguing, mishmash of delights that is what I’ll be affectionately referring to as '‘The Stewards Quarter’… it’s not it’s official ‘old’ name of course… but it feels fitting given (according to google at least) ‘A Royal Navy Steward is a key Logistics & Personnel rating responsible for high-level hospitality, catering support, and accommodation management, often working in officers' messes and cabins. They ensure the comfort of personnel, particularly officers, while also performing vital ship duties like first aid, fire drill, and damage control.’
Essentially, they were pretty much, the Royal Naval equivalent to a Butler and Valet - though this being a residence, rather than on sea (where those duties would have been combined) and the grand status of the house, the position Captain Creyke had, and his wealth, there’s an excellent chance he might have had both… the uniform of the time for a Rear Admiral was certainly pretty ornate!
As a side note, completely unrelated to floorplans, The Royal Navy only started to wear Uniform in 1748… and even then it was only the officers. Prior to that they wore civilliant clothing. Army officers had been wearing uniforms for 100 years longer than the Navy so were apparently seen as more respectable.
Their uniforms were designed to resemble upper class civilian clothing, as it was considered that a commissioned officer was a gentleman and this helped to set their status as one in society. They did have an ‘undress’ uniform which was marginally less formal and therefore more practical but frankly it all looks wholly unsuitable for sailing and going to war and sword fighting - I mean, I’d struggle I think to sit down in it!
OK… that’s a lot of writing not about floorplans so here it comes - it’s a bit more of a rabbit warren than the rest of the floors so strap in! As before this post is for paid subscribers only. A reminder that they were commissioned for my book, so if you don’t want to subscribe here, you can see it there (and potentially available from libraries etc!).