The household below stairs: Buttery 1660-1821

Buttery 1660–1821

The buttery stored and delivered liquors other than wine. In 1660 the establishment of the buttery consisted of a gentleman, appointed by royal warrant, and yeomen, grooms and pages appointed by lord steward's warrant. (fn. 1) In 1662 the gentleman was reduced to supernumerary status with wages of £11 8s 1½d and board wages of £24 6s 8d. He was restored in ordinary in 1668. His board wages rose to £54 15s in 1674 but fell to £38 11s 10½d in 1680. In 1685 his office was combined with that of yeoman of the buttery at a salary of £60 divided in 1689 into wages of £11 8s 1½d and board wages of £48 11s 10½d. The association with the office of yeoman was severed in 1714. The gentleman also received lodgings and fees of honour calculated to have been worth an additional £20 under George I. The salary was fixed at £70 in 1727 and raised to £200 in 1761. In 1812 the office was reduced to sinecure status at St. James's with a salary of £205 rising to £231 in 1813. It was left unfilled on the death of its holder in 1816. (fn. 2)

Three yeomen were appointed in 1660. The Establishment of 1664 lists four `Yeomen of the Buttry and Cellar' at £5 and board wages of £50, along with two supernumerary yeomen of the buttry at £5 and board wages of £20. After reduction to two ordinary yeomen in 1668 and considerable variation in remuneration, one office of yeoman was combined with that of gentleman in 1685; the second yeoman's position was made supernumerary. A distinct office of yeoman was revived in 1689 with wages of £5 and board wages of £45. In 1761 the salary was fixed at £100. The office was abolished in 1812. (fn. 3)

Two grooms were appointed in 1660. In 1664 the remuneration of the two `Grooms of the Buttry and Cellar' was fixed at wages of £2 13s 4d and board wages of £15 which subsequently fluctuated between £27 and £40. A supernumerary was also established in 1664 at £2 13s 4d and board wages of £36 10s. In 1685 the salary of the ordinary grooms was settled at £20. In 1689 wages of £2 13s 4d and board wages of £37 6s 8d were substituted. At the same time four grooms were appointed but the number was reduced to three within the year. From 1761 a single groom was appointed with a salary of £90. In 1812 the office was reduced to sinecure status at St. James's with a salary of £80 raised to £88 in 1813. It was left unfilled on the death of its incumbent in 1821 when the existence of the department came to a close. A supernumerary groom was appointed in 1673 and again in 1735. (fn. 4)

The assistant to the yeoman and groom, was established in 1764. This officer received £43 per annum. (fn. 5) His place was abolished in 1815.

Originally the pages were two in number. In 1664 they were reduced to one supernumerary at £2 wages and £10 board wages per annum. These board wages were raised in 1668 to £36 10s. An ordinary page served from 1671 to 1674. The office was reduced again to supernumerary status at £2 wages and £36 10s in 1674 and abolished in 1680 on the promotion of its holder. (fn. 6)

Gentleman 1660–1662

Supernumerary Gentleman 1662–[1668]

Gentleman 1668–1812

Yeomen 1660–1685

Supernumerary Yeomen 1664–1668; 1686–1688

Yeomen 1689–1812

Grooms 1660–1821

Supernumerary Groom 1664–1668; 1673–1683; 1735–1736

Assistant to the Yeomen and Grooms 1764–1815

Pages 1660–1664; 1671–1674

Supernumerary Page 1664–c. 1683