The household below stairs: Porters at Gate 1660-1837

Porters at Gate 1660–1837

The Sergeant-Porter hath the command of the rest, who have their Waiting by turns, and a lodge in the King's Palace Gate, where they wait with a Black Staff, and take care the Way be kept clear, and no Disorders or Tumults gather'd in, or about the palace. (fn. 1)

The sergeant porter was appointed by royal warrant. In 1662 the office was reduced to supernumerary status with wages of £11 8s 1d and board wages of £160. In 1664 it was restored in ordinary with the same wages and board wages of £120, increased again to £160 in 1668 but reduced to £53 6s 8d in 1680. The sergeant porter was also allowed fees of honour, which yielded an average of £35 per annum at the start of the eighteenth century. From 1685 the fixed remuneration was set at £120, divided from 1689 into wages of £8 1s 1 1/2d and board wages of £108 11s 10 1/2d. In 1812 the sergeant porter was established at St. James's at £87 increased in the following year to £115. A supernumerary sergeant porter was appointed in 1672, 1681 and 1816. The deputy sergeant porter was appointed by warrant of the Prince Regent to the lord steward. He received £165 per annum. (fn. 2)

The yeoman porters at gate were appointed by lord steward's warrant. Four such servants were appointed in 1660, but only two were allowed on the Establishment of 1 Dec. 1662. They lost diet on this establishment, but received wages of £5 apiece and divided board wages amongst themselves and three grooms of £255 10s. Board wages were settled at £51 2d in 1664. They fell to £35 apiece in 1680. A third yeoman was added in 1680. The Establishment of 1 July 1685 provided for three yeomen at £40 apiece. In 1689 a fourth yeoman porter was added and all were raised to £5 wages and £45 board wages. The yeomen and groom porters at gate were also entitled to fees of honour and, in 1706, received an additional £10 apiece to hire servants 'to attend & sitt up nightly throughout y^e Year, to take care of y^e several Gates.' The Establishment of 1 July 1761 allowed a salary of £50 and an allowance of £10 for each of four yeomen. This became a salary of £60 in 1782. The yeoman porters at gate were also given allowances in kind calculated in 1812 to be worth £54 15s per annum. In 1812 three yeoman porters were made redundant on the St. James's establishment at £49 apiece; a fourth was transferred to the Windsor establishment and fifth was established at Carlton House at £170 per annum. From 1820, there was no distinction of rank between or among the yeomen and groom porters; all were designated yeomen state porters and received £120 per annum. (fn. 3)

Groom porters at gate (not to be confused with the groom porter of the household) were appointed by lord steward's warrant. Three such servants were appointed in 1660. They were established in 1662 at wages of £2 13s 4d and board wages to be divided amongst themselves and two yeomen porters of £255 10s. In 1664 one groom porter was made supernumerary at wages of £2 13s 4d and board wages of £15 per annum. The two remaining ordinary grooms received similar wages and £51 2s in board wages. The number of established groom porters rose to three by 1668, but the posts do not appear to have been filled consistently between 1677 and 1685. Moreover, board wages fell to £27 8s in 1680. James II awarded a salary of £30 to the groom porters. This was raised to £2 13s 4d in wages and £37 6s 8d in board wages in 1689. The groom porters received salaries of £40 and an allowance of £10 on the Establishment of 1 July 1761. This was consolidated into a salary of £50 in 1782. The effective groom porter at gate was also given allowances in kind calculated in 1812 to be worth £67 5s. In 1812 two groom porters at gate were made redundant at St. James's at £41 apiece; a third was transferred to the Windsor establishment; and a fourth was established at Carlton House at £32 per annum. From 1820, the groom porters at gate became state yeomen porters. (fn. 4)

Sergeant Porter 1660–1662

Supernumerary Sergeant Porter 1662–1664

Sergeant Porter 1664–1837

Supernumerary Sergeant 1672–1684; 1816–1819

Deputy Sergeant Porter 1816–1819

Yeoman Porters

First Yeoman Porter 1660–1680; 1685–1830

Second Yeoman Porter 1660–1830

Third Yeoman Porter 1660–1662; 1680–1830

Fourth Yeoman Porter 1660–1662; 1663–1664; 1689–1830

Fifth Yeoman Porter 1820–1830

Yeoman Porters 1828–1837

(no account of rank taken)

Groom Porters 1660–1820

First Groom Porter 1660–1677; 1685–1820

Second Groom Porter 1660–1680; 1685–1812

Third Groom Porter

(1660–1664; 1668–1760; 1761–c. 1817)

[?Fourth] Groom Porter c. 1662

Supernumerary Groom Porter 1662–1685; 1686–1689