Domestic Servants in England and Wales between 1880-1914: A Contribution to the British History of late Victorian and Edwardian Era.

The bachelor thesis deals with the issue of domestic service in England and Wales between the years 1880-1914. The aim of this thesis is to clarify the reasons that caused the beginning of decline of domestic service ahead of World War I. The thesis explains the way of hiring and firing servants, it describes their daily routine and advantages and disadvantages of this occupation, as well as the structure and hierarchy within household. The cardinal element in the recession of domestic service was the change of society's perception towards servants regarding the gradual disconnection of salary and social rank. This phenomenon together with the gentry's unwillingness to keep up with the times inevitably led to gradual decadence of domestic service. WWI and the consequent rise of alternative job offers only speeded up this process