The household below stairs: Ewry 1660-1837

Ewry 1660–1837

The ewry was responsible for the provision and storage of linen for the royal tables `and serve up water in the Silver Ewers after Dinner, whence the Office has its Name.' (fn. 1) In 1660 the establishment of the ewry consisted of a gentleman, appointed by royal warrant, and yeomen, grooms and a page, appointed by lord steward's warrant. A sergeant, appointed by royal warrant, appeared in 1661. In 1662 the remuneration of the sergeant was fixed at wages of £11 8s 1½d and board wages of £24 6s 8d. There were subsequent variations in the board wages. The office was abolished in 1685. (fn. 2)

In 1668 the remuneration of the gentleman was fixed at wages of £11 8s 1½d and board wages of £33 16s 9¼d. There were subsequent variations in the board wages. In 1685 the office was combined with that of yeoman with a salary of £60. It was left vacant between 1688 and 1691. In 1702 the remuneration was fixed at wages of £11 8s 1½d and board wages of £48 11s 10½d. The gentleman also received fees of honour (yielding £5 under George I), fees on all new tablecloths and napkins (worth about £15 per annum) and £50 per annum for providing rose water to the Household. In 1714 the title of the office reverted to that of gentleman of the ewry. In 1761 the salary was fixed at £200. In 1813 it was raised to £285 in compensation for the loss of allowances in kind. In 1830 it was fixed at £280. The office ceased to be filled on the departure of its incumbent in 1832. (fn. 3)

Two yeomen were appointed in 1660 with one becoming supernumerary in 1662. In 1664 the remuneration for the `Yeomen of the Pantry and Ewry' was fixed at wages of £5 and board wages of £50. There were subsequent variations in the board wages. In 1685 the position of one of the yeomen was subsumed into that of the gentleman of the ewry; the other was made supernumerary. Two yeomen were appointed in 1689 with wages of £5 and board wages of £45. The number of yeomen was reduced to one in 1699. The salary was fixed at £100 in 1761, fell to £98 in 1812 and was increased to £116 in 1813. (fn. 4)

Two grooms appear to have been appointed in 1660. In 1664, as `Grooms of the Pantry and Ewry', their remuneration was fixed at wages of £2 13s 4d and board wages of £40. For the remainder of the reign of Charles II there was considerable variation in the number and wages of the grooms. In 1685 one groom was appointed with a salary of £40. Two served from 1689 with wages of £2 13s 6d and board wages of £37 6s 8d. The number of grooms fell to one in 1702 but rose again to two in 1727. The offices were abolished in 1761. Supernumerary grooms were appointed between 1675 and 1698. (fn. 5)

A single page was appointed in 1660. He was reduced to supernumerary status in 1664 at £2 and £10 respectively. Restored to ordinary status in 1666, the 1668 Establishment reduced him to a supernumerary again at wages of £5 and board wages of £33 16s 9 1/4d. The office was finally abolished in 1675 on the promotion of its holder. (fn. 6)

The office of assistant was established in 1664 at £53 per annum. The position was abolished in 1815. (fn. 7)

The office of mistress or storekeeper was established in 1823. It paid £100 per annum from 1823 to 1828; £116 from 1828 to 1830, and £120 per annum thereafter. (fn. 8)

Sergeant 1661–1685

Gentleman 1660–1832

Yeomen 1660–1664; 1668–1837

Supernumerary Yeoman 1662–1668

Grooms 1660–1761

Supernumerary Grooms

(1668–1678; 1679; 1684; 1686–1688; 1692; 1698–c. 1705)

Page 1660–1664

Supernumerary Page 1664–1666

Page 1666–1668

Supernumerary 1668–1675

Assistant 1764–1815

Mistress (or Storekeeper) 1823–1837

The Establishment of 1 December 1662 lists but does not name a supernumerary yeoman of the ewry: LS 13/31, f. 16v.