The labour history of domestic service has witnessed a long trajectory from its earliest day as a training ground for young gentlemen to a profession scorned by all except those who practised it. The rise and fall of domestic labour has been an indicator of the growth of the middle classes and the entrenchment of a class system. It has mirrored the fluctuations of the economy and the social changes that have been brought about by governments, wars and evolving attitudes. 9 pgs. 17 f/c. 5b.
