The household below stairs: Confectionary 1660-1837

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.

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'The household below stairs: Confectionary 1660-1837', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006) pp. 449-453. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp449-453 [accessed 19 March 2024]

In this section

Confectionary 1660–1837

The confectionary prepared `such kind of Delicates for the King's Table, as Deserts of sweet-Meats, Jellies, Fruits, &c.' (fn. 1) In 1660 the establishment of the confectionary consisted of a sergeant, appointed by royal warrant, and yeomen, grooms and a page, appointed by lord steward's warrant. In 1662 the sergeant was reduced to supernumerary status with wages of £11 8s 1½d and board wages of £24 6s 8d. The office was abolished on the death of its holder in 1675. (fn. 2)

Two yeomen were appointed in 1660, the second becoming supernumerary 1664–1668. In 1662 their wages were fixed at £5. They also received board wages ranging between £15 4s 2d and £45 12s 6d under Charles II. In 1685 one yeoman was appointed with a salary of £50, the second becoming supernumerary. In 1689 the number rose to two with wages of £5 and board wages of £45. Between 1702 and 1716 the position of second yeoman was occupied by a female confectioner whose emoluments were equivalent to those of a yeoman. From 1761 the two yeomen received salaries of £50. In 1812 these were reduced to sinecure status at St. James's with salaries of £66; one continued to receive a salary until 1821, the other until 1829. Two effective yeomen were established at Carlton House in 1812 with salaries of £261 and £100. (fn. 3)

One groom was appointed in 1660. In 1662 his wages were established at £2 13s 4d. In 1664 he was reduced to supernumerary status with wages of £5 and board wages of £15. He was restored in ordinary in 1668 with wages of £2 13s 4d and board wages of £15 4s 2d. In 1680 board wages were fixed at £27 6s 8d. The office was again reduced to supernumerary status under James II. In 1689 two grooms were appointed with the usual wages and board wages of £37 6s 8d. In 1702 the number was reduced to one whose salary was fixed at £40 in 1761. The office was transferred to the Windsor establishment in 1812. Additional supernumerary grooms were appointed in 1677 and 1684. (fn. 4)

The office of page was made supernumerary in 1664 and abolished in 1668. (fn. 5)

The assistant to the confectionary at Carlton House, established in 1812, was paid £40 per annum by 1817. This was raised to £60 per annum under William IV. (fn. 6)

Sergeant 1660–1662

1660 16 Aug. Walthew, H.

Supernumerary Sergeant 1662–1675

1662 1 Dec. Walthew, H.

Yeomen 1660–1837

1660 16 Aug. Walthew, W.
1660 25 Aug. Portman, G.
1668 1 Oct. Portman, G.
1670 1 Mar. Delahay, P.
1678 14 Apr. de Rains, P.
1684 11 Dec. Frontine, J.
1685 22 Apr. Noble, M.
1689 26 Mar. Mortimer, P.
1689 26 Mar. du Commen, J.
1691 25 Apr. de Rains, P.
1697 12 Apr. Thurman, R.
1699 23 Nov. Gunthorpe, G.
1702 3 July Stephens, E.
1716 21 June du Commen, J.
1719 24 Jan. Ferré, A.
1727 1 July Fraigneau, J.
1732 22 July Ferré, A.
1748 15 Feb. Robinson, R.
1756 2 Feb. Ferré, W.
1761 1 July Street, T.
1762 1 Jan. Kentiff, F.
1783 22 Dec. Robinson, R.
1784 29 Apr. Fitzwater, J.
1796 5 Feb. Wetten, J.
1796 22 Oct. Fitzwater, J.
1812 19 Feb. Benois, A.F. (Carlton House)
1812 19 Feb. Watier, P.F. (Carlton House)
1827 5 July Mary, P.
1830 15 July Mawditt, J.

Supernumerary Yeoman 1664–1668; 1686–1688

1664 1 Oct. Portman, G.
1686 1 Feb. Frontine, J.
1686 1 Feb. de Rains, P.

Groom 1660–1664

1660 25 Aug. Winch, R.

Supernumerary Groom of the Confectionary and Wafery 1664–1668

1664 1 Oct. Winch, R.

Groom 1668–1685

1668 28 Nov. Delahay, P.
1670 1 Mar. Frontine, J.
1684 11 Dec. Thurman, R.

Supernumerary Grooms 1677–1684

1677 2 Aug. Frontine, B.
1684 4 Aug. Thurman, R.
1686 1 Feb. Thurman, R.

Grooms 1689–1812

1689 16 Mar. de Rains, P.
1689 16 Mar. Thurman, R.
1691 25 Apr. Gunthorpe, G.
1697 13 Apr. Michau, L.
1698 4 Apr. Chase, R.
1699 23 Nov. Drake, T.
1715 26 July du Commen, J.
1716 21 June Burroughs, C.
1717 7 Feb. Ferré, A.
1719 24 Jan. Montfort, H.
1727 1 July Ferré, A.
1732 22 July Caillou, A.
1735 1 Nov. Whitehorn, J.
1741 1 Sept. Rogers, T.
1742 1 Oct. Robinson, R.
1748 15 Feb. Ferré, W.
1756 2 Feb. Street, T.
1761 1 July Kentiff, F.
1762 1 Jan. Robinson, R.
1783 22 Dec. Fitzwater, J.
1784 29 Apr. Gould, R.T.
1791 4 June Wetten, J.
1796 5 Feb. Fitzwater, J.
1796 22 Oct. Barker, J.

Page of the Confectionary 1660–1664

1660 17 Oct. Bishop, G.

Supernumerary Page of the Confectionary and Wafery 1664–1668

1664 1 Oct. Bishop, G.

Assistant at Carlton House 1812–1837

1812 19 Feb. Whittle, A.
1830 16 July Leidler, F

Footnotes

  • 1. PSBC, p. 10; see also Beattie, p. 88.
  • 2. LS 13/31, f. 16v; LS 13/9, f. 7.
  • 3. LS 13/31, f. 11v; LS 13/34, f. 24v; LS 13/35, f. 11v; LS 13/36, f. 13; LS 13/37, f. 10v; LS 13/38, ff. 10v, 12v; LS 13/39, p. 19; LS 13/55; LS 13/69, pp. 58, 60.
  • 4. LS 13/31, f. 11v; LS 13/34, f. 24v; LS 13/35, f. 11v; LS 13/36, f. 13; LS 13/37, f. 10v; LS 13/38, f. 10v; LS 13/39, p. 19; LS 13/55; LS 13/184, p. 253.
  • 5. LS 13/7, f. 5v; LS 13/34, f. 24v; LS 13/35.
  • 6. LS 2/43, f. 2; LS 2/58, f. 2.