The stables: Grooms c. 1665-1837

Grooms c. 1665–1837

Grooms of the Stables were appointed by the master of the horse. Grooms were distinguished as being of the coursers' (also known as the crown or great horse) stable or the hunting and padd stable under Charles II and again under William III. The Household Establishment of 1664 lists two grooms of the coursers' stable at 10d per diem (£15 4s 2d per annum), twenty-eight such officers at 14d per diem (£21 5s 10d per annum), and thirteen grooms of the hunting stable at 12d per diem (£18 5s per annum). In addition, nine groom sumptermen at 12d per diem (£18 5s per annum) and two grooms of the hales at £9 2s 6d per annum were appointed under Charles II. Late in the reign, seven grooms of the hobby stable were appointed at £18 5s per annum and hunting grooms were raised to £30. (fn. 1) James II reduced the number of grooms to 21 at £54 per annum, plus a hunting groom at £18 5s. William III and Mary II raised their number to a total of 31, and allowed them a suit of livery worth £36. Anne reduced their number and wages to ten at £36 per annum on the Establishment of 1702. She appointed an additional hunting groom in 1708 and two more in 1710 at £36 plus £10 per annum in lieu of lodgings in London and other necessaries. George I allowed twenty-four grooms at £54 per annum plus one groom of the coursers' stable at £63 per annum. George II began with 25 grooms (afterwards reduced to 20 at £60) and two grooms at £120 per annum. One groom was assigned to the hobby stable from 1754. (fn. 2)

In 1761 the position of first groom, 'which had been extinct for many years' was revived for William Cates at £10 per annum. George III began with eighteen grooms at £60 per annum. This rose to 30 grooms at £70 per annum by 1782. In 1783 there were eighteen grooms, including a first groom at £70, the remainder at £60 per annum. By 1807, the grooms were allowed additional emoluments ranging from £21 1s to £73 3s. In 1812 there were sixteen grooms ranging in salary from £95 to £200. In 1823 their number rose to seventeen. (fn. 3)

Grooms of the Coursers [Crown or Great Horse] Stables

(c. 1669–c. 1685; 1690–1702; 1708–?)

N.B.: Grooms were not distinguished by function in the last Est. of Charles II, c. 1685 or the Est. of James II, 31 Mar. 1685 (Dartmouth MSS OX D (w) 1778/v/132). For succession 1685–1688 see “Grooms.”

Grooms of the Hunting and Padd Stables

(c. 1665–1685; 1689–1702; 1708–1735)

N.B.: Grooms were not distinguished by function in the last Est. of Charles II, c. 1685 or the Est. of James II, 31 Mar. 1685 (Dartmouth MSS OX D (w) 1778/v/132). For succession 1685–1688, see “Grooms.”

Groom Sumptermen c. 1669–1685

Grooms of the Hales c. 1669–1685

Grooms of the Hobby Stable

(c. 1682–c.1685; 1754–?1820)

Grooms 1685–1688; 1702–1837