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Most work for men was in offices, factories, building (homes and railways) or down the coal mines. Many middle-class families would have at least one servant. It was young women who would go into service as maids or, if they were better educated, as a governess looking after, and teaching, children of wealthy families. The governess or nanny as they might be called was above the servants but below the family in class order. It was hard work in service. Maids might work a 16 hour day, getting up early, making and lighting all the fires in the house, most rooms would have a separate coal fire, setting the table for breakfast and emptying chamber pots that the owner’s family had used in the night to go to the toilet. Next they would dust, clean (there were no vacuum cleaners so they would have to hang carpets on a line and beat them), polish and change linen as well as wait on the family at meal times. If there was no cook employed then the lady of the house might help in preparing meals but washing up was a maid's job. They might get to bed at about 10.00pm, often in a small, cramped room in the attic of the house. Factory owners became as wealthy as landowners and merchants. Some took great care of their workers, others didn’t. Country folk had fewer neighbours than they used to have. Various laws cut down on work children could do. The workhouses were made as unpleasant as possible to stop people wanting to go there.
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