The household below stairs: Pitcher House 1660-85

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: Pitcher House 1660-85', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006) pp. 534-536. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp534-536 [accessed 19 March 2024]

In this section

Pitcher House 1660–85

The pitcher house delivered wine to members of the royal Household. In 1660 the establishment of the pitcher house consisted of one yeoman, two grooms and two pages, appointed by lord steward's warrant. In 1662 the remuneration of the yeoman was fixed at wages of £5 and board wages of £15 4s 2d. After some fluctuations the board wages were settled at £35 in 1680. The office was made supernumerary in 1686. (fn. 1)

The grooms, originally two in number, were reduced to one, with a supernumerary, in 1662 when the remuneration was fixed at wages of £2 13s 4d and board wages of £15 4s 2d. Board wages fluctuated between this figure and £40 before being settled at £27 6s 8d in 1680. (fn. 2) Supernumerary grooms were appointed in 1660, 1683 and 1686.

The pages were reduced to a single supernumerary position on the establishment of 1662. Its emoluments were £2 in wages and £30 8s 1d, to be divided with a supernumerary groom, in board wages. Two pages were made supernumerary in 1664, at £2 wages and £10 board wages. A single supernumerary is listed in 1674, at these wages and board wages of £15 4s 2d. Although the officers in this sub-department continued to enjoy supernumerary status until 1699, the pitcher house was effectively abolished on the death of Charles II in 1685. (fn. 3)

Yeoman 1660–1685

1660 25 Aug. Bacon, S. (1664–68: and Almonry)
1672 1 Nov. Gale, F.
1677 22 Feb. Bromfield, R.
1678 1 July Littlemore, J.
1679 8 Jan. Trussel, J.

Supernumerary Yeoman 1686–1688

1686 1 Feb. Trussell, J.

Grooms 1660–1686

1660 22 Aug. Thackeray, T.
1660 12 Oct. Thurston, J.
1660 4 Sept. Gale, F.
1672 1 Nov. Coxon, F.

Supernumerary Grooms 1662–1685; 1686–1699

1662 1 Dec. [?] (fn. 4)
1683 28 Aug. Fosbrook, J.
1686 1 Feb. Coxon, F.
1686 1 Feb. Thurston, J.

Pages 1680–1688

1660 7 Sept. Crane, H.
[1660] Clarke, R.

Supernumerary Pages 1662–1688

1662 1 Dec. [?] (fn. 4)
1664 1 Oct. Crane, H.
1664 1 Oct. Clarke, R.

Footnotes

  • 1. LS 13/31, f. 11v; LS 13/34, f. 11v; LS 13/35, f. 11v; LS 13/36, f. 13; LS 13/37, f. 10v.
  • 2. LS 13/31, ff. 11v, 16; LS 13/34, ff. 11v, 24; LS 13/35, ff. 11v, 19; LS 13/36, f. 13; LS 13/37, f. 10v.
  • 3. LS 13/31, f. 16; LS 13/34, f. 24; LS 13/36, f. 2d; LS 13/38, f. 12; LS 13/39; LS 13/40.
  • 4. The Est. of 1 Dec. 1662 lists, but does not name a supernumerary groom and page of the pitcher house: LS 13/31, f. 16.