The household below stairs: Watchmen 1702-1837

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.

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Citation:

'The household below stairs: Watchmen 1702-1837', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, ed. R O Bucholz( London, 2006), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp592-595 [accessed 26 November 2024].

'The household below stairs: Watchmen 1702-1837', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Edited by R O Bucholz( London, 2006), British History Online, accessed November 26, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp592-595.

"The household below stairs: Watchmen 1702-1837". Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Ed. R O Bucholz(London, 2006), , British History Online. Web. 26 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp592-595.

In this section

Watchmen 1702–1837

Some watchmen below stairs appear to have been appointed by the lord steward; others by the clerks of the green cloth (or, after 1782, the clerks of the household) in rotation. As established in 1702, a single watchman at St. James's Palace made £27 7s 6d. In 1726 a further four watchmen were added at £20 per annum. By 1800 the watchman at St. James's made £45 7s 6d. The watchman at Kensington was established by 1761 at £18 per annum. A watchman at the Queen's House appeared 1781–1812. 1812 saw the establishment of a house watchman and an outdoor watchman at Carlton House at £55 per annum apiece; a house watchman at Kew; and one at Brighton. In 1820 the watchman at Buckingham House was established at £118, the assistant watchman £36 10s. In 1830 two subordinate outdoor watchmen at Buckingham House were added at £55 apiece, but the watchman at Buckingham House fell to £80; in 1834 he was further reduced to £70 per annum. In 1830 the assistant watchman fell to £36 10s. The watchman of the Pavilion at Brighton made £76 per annum until 1830, when he was reduced to £60. (fn. 1)

Watchman at St. James's c. 1702–1837

1702 1 July Campion, J.
By 1710 Whiteoff, J.
1717 30 May Whiteoff, J.
1725 1 July Holden, J.
1740 1 July Parratt, C.
1787 13 Mar. Blenman, W.
1800 6 Feb. Jupp, W.

Watchmen occ.1726

1726 1 Mar. Wall, J.
1726 1 Mar. Herbert, E.
1726 1 Mar. Fido, J.
1726 1 Mar. Aspley, J.

Watchman at Kensington 1761–1830

1761 1 July Town, W.
1803 29 Dec. Jarvis, J.
1807 4 Nov. Crawford, C.
1822 22 Nov. Pocock, F.

Watchman at the Queen's House c. 1781–1812

By 1781 Wheelwright, H.
1781 5 Jan. Clarke, A.
1782 1 Jan. Lee, T.

Watchman at Buckingham House 1820–1837

1820 6 Jan. Lee, J.
1830 27 Dec. Rapkin, G., sen.
1833 31 July Kibble, T.
1834 28 Apr. Copers, C.

Assistant Watchman at Buckingham House 1820–1837

1820 5 Jan. Bennet, G.
1830 27 Dec. Bennet, J.
1832 8 Apr. Cox, W.
1834 28 Apr. Roberts, R., jun.

Outdoor Watchman at Buckingham House 1830–1837

1830 5 Jan. Harris, J.
1830 6 Apr. Copers, C.
1833 31 July Rapkin, G., jun.

House Watchmen at Carlton House 1812–1830

1812 19 Feb. Kibble, T.
1812 19 Feb. Rapkin, G., sen.

Outdoor Watchman at Carlton House 1812–1830

1812 19 Feb. Harris, J.
1812 19 Feb. Waldron, W.
1823 20 Jan. Winchcombe, W.
1826 14 May Gunn, J.

Watchman at the Pavilion at Brighton 1812–1837

1812 19 Feb. Townshend, J.

Assistant Watchman at Kew 1830–1837

1830 27 Dec. Bennett, J.

Footnotes

  • 1. LS 13/43, f. 14v; LC 5/158, f. 225; LS 2/26; LS 2/29; LS 2/28; LS 2/38; LS 2/46; LS 2/56, f. 3; LS 2/60, f.3.