Overseeing most domestic work was the housekeeper, in effect the manager of this section of the house on behalf of her employers. The larger the house of course, the greater the division of labour, and number of servants living in. In a modest dwelling such as this it has been estimated that a housekeeper would have lived in the basement, a governess in the attic, and a man servant, perhaps with a family, in the coach house at the rear. A maid might also have been employed. Casual staff may have been hired on special occasions, and bedded down for the night in the basement hall.
A survey of the population of Dublin in 1798, conducted by the Reverend William Whitelaw of St. Catherine's Church on Thomas Street, shows for every three members of the upper class living in the Merrion Square area, at least two servants were employed.
The housekeeper played an active part in cooking. She was trusted by her employers and held keys to the house. She also would have needed to keep accounts, and know how to market or which produce to buy when and where.
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