IN life the servants and staff of Kiplin Hall moved through the house silently undertaking their duties.

We see traces of them in the historical record through things like wage bills and diary entries.

The Northern Echo:

Then and today, they are shadows, without whom Kiplin Hall could not have existed and thrived.

Today we meet Ann Walker, scullery maid.

Ann Walker was born in Northallerton, Yorkshire, approximately 8 miles away from Kiplin Hall in 1832.

In 1850 she began working at Kiplin Hall as a scullery maid aged 18 years old.

She was paid £3 and 3 shillings as a half yearly salary. This was around half as much as a laundry maid.

We know from the census – taken every ten years – that she stopped working at Kiplin Hall after 1851 but before 1861. We do not know what she did afterwards.

Scullery was the name given to a small room at the back of a house or kitchen, often used for washing dishes and other dirty household work. The scullery maid would report to the housekeeper.

Ann’s daily duties would involve cleaning and scouring kitchen pans and kitchen utensils.

Cleaning the scullery, servants’ hall, larders and kitchen passages. She’d also lay the table in the servants’ hall for meals and assist the cook when required.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this series exploring the Silent Footsteps exhibition.

You can find them all nine articles online at kiplinhall.co.uk/blog.

The exhibition Silent Footsteps is now open and is included with standard admission. Day and Annual tickets are available.

Kiplin is open six days a week, closed on Thursdays.

Please note that this exhibition is on the third floor and there is no lift, access by stairs only.

More information www.kiplinhall.co.uk.

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