Re: BECKFOOT layout - a thought about crockery


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Previous # Next ] [ Start New Thread ] [ TarBoard ]

Posted by Duncan on April 10, 2003 at 11:01:09 from 152.163.188.167 user Duncan.

In Reply to: Re: BECKFOOT layout - a thought about crockery posted by Adam Quinan on April 10, 2003 at 10:04:28:


I think people may be playing up the well-to-do nature of Beckfoot a little (although it was clearly a principal house in a small area) and it certainly seems too much of a generalisation to imagine that the rather unusual Captain Flint and his jolly, Nancy-like sister would have subscribed to all the GA-ish social mores that are pointed to. The GA clearly harks back to a late Victorian or Edwardian Lakeland society, but nobody else seems to reside there with her (as you would expect by 1929 and onwards). There is no suggestion that there were 'servants' at Beckfoot. There is Cook who is clearly a family friend and only the GA treats her/talks to her remotely like a servant. Only she would be surprised at her being considered 'sufficient guardian' for the Amazons, only she would be so rude as to question the excellence of her apple pie. I think, because of the presence of Cook and the rather grand lawn, people have got carried away with an almost Jane Austen-like picture of Beckfoot: there clearly was money in the Blackett household but there is clearly no suggestion of a 'servants quarters' or anything like. I'm not as convinced as others seemed to be that Cook lives on the premises, although I understand the origin of that assumption. Even amongst the VERY wealthy the days of service as a major occupation in British society were numbered by the time SA is set. I think it far more likely that Cook was a neighbour who Mrs. Blackett offered mutually beneficial employment to, rather than a remnant of some larger body of servants. It seems perfectly plausible that the Blackett's took some of their meals in the kitchen and, indeed, that Cook might sometimes eat with them. (I also think it highly unlikely that the GA would have servants at her town house in Harrogate, although she would be likely to employ somebody either to come in and help out or possibly to live on the premises; and we must assume if such a person exists she had rather a hard time of it!)

I noticed one post ages ago suggesting that the Blacketts owned vast swathes of forest, moor and fell and possibly even the island. I think it was suggested that the Tyson's might be the Blackett's tenants. This seems VERY unlikely.

I am pleased to have had a good explanation for why the crockery would be on the passageway though (taking it from the kitchen to another room where washing is done - that seems perfectly logical).

This was meant to be an informative email rather than a combative email - simply suggesting that it might be misleading to get carried away with the idea of Beckfoot as something rather grander than it probably was.

Duncan


Follow Ups:



Post a Followup

Name:
Eel-Mail:

Existing subject (please edit appropriately) :

Comments:

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

post direct to TarBoard test post first

Before posting it is necessary to be a registered user.


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TarBoard ]

Courtesy of Environmental Science, Lancaster

space