House & Garden
The Wordsworths’ home must have been a lively and noisy place. John and Anne Wordsworth had five children, of whom William was the second and Dorothy the third. In total, there were four boys and one girl.
Mr and Mrs Wordsworth employed a modest but standard range of servants. They included a Maid-of-all-work, a Manservant, a Nurse to care for the children and a ‘jobbing’ gardener. Mrs Wordsworth probably acted as Housekeeper, overseeing the running of the household.
Of all of the servants, the Maid seems to have worked hardest, with most housekeeping chores falling to her – including laying fires, cleaning rooms, cooking, sweeping floors, making beds and doing the laundry. By comparison the Manservant did far less. In the mornings he may have joined in the housekeeping chores - especially the outdoor jobs - but in the afternoon he would have acted as footman to his master, receiving guests and serving food and drink.
Records show that the Wordsworths employed a maid called Amy, for several years and a manservant by the name of William. Two nurses called Betty and Sally seem to have shared the care of the children.