Historical Sketch: Hannah Cullwick

I recently had the opportunity to do some research on a fascinating woman that lived in the late Victorian period named Hannah Cullwick. Hannah was a maid of all work, which was one of the most difficult and thankless jobs a lower class woman could have. What makes her such an interesting figure is that she left behind seventeen volumes of detailed diaries about her life. Here is a brief historical sketch of her including some of her diary quotes:

Biographical details 

-May 26, 1833-Jul 9, 1909 Shifnal, United Kingdom 

-mother was a lady’s maid, father was a stableman 

-height and weight: tall, weighing 11 stone (154 lbs) 

-Worked as a maid of all work and other similar jobs (pot girl in an inn, nurserymaid, etc) 

-Unique for her time-childfree, able to read and write, proud of her work performing physical labor 

 

Historical context 

-Victorian views of dirt and uncleanliness: Dirt was a class issue, use of soap signaled a higher class. Use of gas lamps also required constant cleaning.  Lower class women’s labor was supposed to be invisible 

-Maid of all work: responsible for all work in a Victorian home, often only servant employed in a middle class house vs upper class/gentry with a large household staff. Low wages, little personal freedom and rights, no safety net or legal recourse 

Diary quotes 

-Last diary entry in 1873: “This is the last day o' the month, & Massa only wishes me to write to the end. And I am glad of it somehow, for I've got so thoroughly tired o' writing what I think to most people must be very tiresome & certainly disinteresting. I hardly think I shd care to read one lady's diary of twenty years standing tho' of course their'n would be more varied than a servant's can possibly be. And so I've told M. that by making me write for so many years he has quite tired me of it, & yet for some things I am most glad that he's not tired of reading it.” 

-In “her dirt:” “Massa told me to go & have my likeness done in my dirt.... So I went one morning just as I was... & I was partly black wi' cleaning boots and grates & that. I had a dirty lilac frock on & old boots, & a coarse white apron on & my striped one wi' me, & of course a cap on. My hands was quite black & my face & arms grimed, but I pul a good patch o' black lead on my left arm to do 'em.” 

-Her perspective on her work: “I am thirty years old this month... though I don't feel any different than I ever did except in feeling lower in heart I think, for I've been a servant now 20 years or more. Always the lowest kind, but I think different about it now a good deal than I did ten years ago 'fore I knew Massa. He has taught me, though it's been difficult to learn thoroughly, the beauty in being nothing but a common drudge & to bear being despised by others what don't have to work the same way.” 

-Typical daily tasks: “Lighted the fire. Swept the birdroom & dusted the other rooms. Clean'd 3 pairs of boots. Got breakfast up & made the beds & emptied the slops. Clean'd & washed up. Put the linen for the wash. Cleaned the brass rods & the bedroom windows & the sills. Put up clean curtains. Clean'd away & then went upstairs & clean'd the bedrooms on my knees. Got tea. Clean'd away & wash'd up in the scullery. Went out on errands & got supper ready. Mr Cleveland was expected but didn't come till after. I took a note to Mr Brewer for the Missis & then had supper. Clean'd away & wash'd up & to bed at 11.” 

-On her marriage “I like the life I lead - working here & just going to M. when I can of a Sunday, & a chance time to clean of a week day when I can get leave now & then, oftener of course if I could - better even I think than a married life. For I never could make up my mind to that - it's too much like being a woman. . . . So let it be, only I don't wish the world to see me anything else nor a servant, but M.'s love I couldn't do without” 

 

Controversial marriage with Arthur Munby 

-Munby was a barrister (middle to upper class) 

-met in 1854, Munby was attracted to her “peasant” physical features from hard labor, combined with her “ladylike” grace and intelligence. Often objectified working class women 

-He enjoyed seeing her “in her dirt.” She would come home from work with her clothes dirty from her and then transform into “respectable” clothing 

-Both participated in a “master/slave” relationship, she would wear a “slave band” and a padlock necklace to which he held the key. She was dismissed from one employer for not removing the slave band while serving dinner. Referred to him as “Massa” 

-Munby took numerous photographs of her in different costumes, such as a slave, chimney sweep, high class lady, etc 

-Unconventional marriage-Hannah didn’t live with him full time, would visit him after work on Sundays. Had him compensate her for any domestic duties 

 

For more information, check out an upcoming episode on Hannah Cullwich on the Infinite Women podcast.