Heritage > Historic Houses

Beaulieu

Upper Drawing Room and Ante Room: Ladies at Leisure

The chapels in the Great Gatehouse, the Upper Drawing Room and the Ante Room were once 'withdrawing' rooms where 'ladies of the house' would retire to practice the pursuits considered as both acceptable and fashionable by their class. The gentlemen had their own separate Drawing Room. Staff prayers were said here each morning. The lives of upper-class women were usually inactive in the commercial and professional s ense. Victorian ladies were expected to perform the 'charitable good works' which helped the poor and needy within their district. In Beaulieu, soup, coal and clothing clubs were set up to help the less fortunate. Ladies were expected to organise social e vents on regular occasions when the villagers were allowed a brief glimpse of those 'at the big house' The grandparents of the current Lord Montagu of Beaulieu regularly gave teas for the poor children of the parish, and arranged Christmas treats for them .

Home-making was considered the duty of the woman, whether she lived in the slums of London or on a country estate in Hampshire. Although the lady of the house was ultimately responsible for the running of the household, day-to-day control was veste d in the housekeeper. This left her free to participate in a wide range of leisure activities. Lord Montagu's grandmother suffered badly from arthritis in her later years and was unable to take part in the outdoor activities which were becoming popular. S he went for drives around the Estate, and planted the rides with the newly introduced rhododendrons, but riding, croquet, archery and tennis were left to his aunt.

A large proportion of the day could be spent in making and receiving calls in accordan ce with the elaborate rituals set out in etiquette manuals. Calling cards were left with the butler inviting a visit, which might be morning or afternoon. Pre- lunch visitors were received in the 'morning-room' on the eastern side of the house to catch th e sun and would be entertained with a glass of Madeira and a biscuit. Afternoon guests were given a tea at around 5 o'clock comprising tea, sandwiches cakes and biscuits which, according to the strictest etiquette, should be eaten without plates!

Indoor activities tended towards the decorative rather than the practical. A major occupation was needlework, not mending but netting purses and embroidering pen cases, although some would run up shifts and shirts for the poor Ladies were taught to draw, pai nt and sketch, to sing and play the piano, but these things should not be done too well, an essential amateurishness was to be preserved.

The keeping of scrapbooks was a very Victorian pastime, indeed it is thought that the illustrations and illumina tions from the Beaulieu Abbey Account Book were cut from an old manuscript. Just as the Victorian gentleman showed his interest in wildlife by displaying the spoils of the hunt, his lady spent hours pressing the wild flowers gathered on her walk. Victoria n ladies saw little of their children. From an early age they were passed from nurse to nanny to governess until, in the case of boys, they were sent away to school. Contact with their parents was limited to specific times of the day, usually before tea a nd at bed-time. The drawing rooms were considered feminine territory and as such men, children and animals needed special permission to enter. Children particularly needed to be on their best behaviour and boisterous games were forbidden. Often they posed in their best clothes whilst their mothers sketched small portraits. As a child Montagu's father used to play on what today is termed 'The Secret Staircase' but originally it provided access to this floor and to a look-out point on the roof. Victorian la dies were compulsive letter writers and the regular departure of their husbands and offspring gave them the opportunity to indulge their talents.

Sunday, the Sabbath, was regarded as a special day in Victorian society. The outing to Church was follow ed by lunch and a parental visit to the nursery would reveal the children playing with their Sunday toys - a Noah's Ark or books and jigsaws on biblical themes.

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