Scullery Maid

And yet, consider now the young scullery maid,
Lowest of the lowly, she toils quite dutifully.
No time for talk, for love, for care, time only for work for she.
Her only respite from her chores, an hour of prayer, faithfully.

— Rodrom Forestbrow, "Ode to a Scullery Maid"

The scullery maid is the lowest rank in the noble and royal households where a scullery maid is employed. Day after day she washes the dishes for the household and for the servants as well. It is the only job in the house that does not require experience, an opportunity for young farm girls looking to better their status by entering service. But why devote a page in this chronicle to such? Why "consider now the young scullery maid," as Forestbrow begged in his rather atrocious poem?
Most noble households only have enough fancy plates and bowls for one course of dinner, and possible the 'remove' between courses. It is the scullery maids job to see that those dishes are washed fast enough for the next course to be served on time. Quite a feat of speed and skill. And then there are the regular meals. Breakfast, dinner, tea and supper are often all served on the same plates, for both servants and masters. Take the scullery maid out of the equation, and the household breaks down, as many a noble lady has found to her sorrow when her scullery maid quits, is fired, or even is indisposed for a day.
Let us take a closer look at the day of a scullery maid. She is one of the first to rise in the household, trying not to wake the one or often two other maids sharing the bed. She stokes the fires in the kitchen, perhaps puts water on for tea for the senior staff. Then she wakes the servant above her in rank, before returning to the kitchen to scrub the floor while there is

still no one on it. If she has time, she scrubs the larder and buttery floors as well. If not, she will have to find time later. By now the house is stirring, at least the servants areas. Breakfast is made for both tables, noble and servant, and the servants rush through theirs to begin their duties. Now the scullery maid steps to the wash sink and begins to work in earnest. Food dishes, cooking pots, all must be done by noon, and then again, and again, and finally the last course is finished, the last sherry drunk. And yet, the scullery maid still works at her sink. The senior staff go to their beds, the junior staff finish up and do the same. Finally, the last dish is washed, the last pot hung in its place. The scullery maid banks the fires for the night - and Ocith help her if they should go out! Finally, she makes her way to the bed chamber, and takes her rest, the last one asleep. Tomorrow she will do it all again.
And what of the royal household? Quite the similar routine, except there are more scullery maids employed to keep up with the dishes. There may even be a head scullery maid in charge of making things run smoothly. The only break they get is an hour off once a week to visit what temple they may choose - and be certain they are being watched, lest they run off for some amusement. A scullery maid's goal in life is to move up the ranks to perhaps a cook's assistant. Any time they have free is spent assisting with food preparation, in hopes of getting noticed. Some will be clever enough to move up, some will not, and will scrub pans until they are too slow to do it well.

Half-Eaten Food on Tray by Nightflyer0ne with ArtBreeder

Alternative Names

Drudge, Scullery Wench

Type

Culinary

Demand

Essential to noble and royal households when affordable

Scullery Maids in the Common Sector

Should you dismiss the young maid from your thoughts, as merely noble perogatives, remind yourself of the last time you were in a tavern or pub. Without a doubt, there were one or more scullery maids working away in the kitchen, cleaning mugs and plates as fast as they can.
Even the average commoner can appreciate the work of the lowly scullery maid. Anywhere there is a large build-up of dishes, especially ones that need to be reused quickly, you will find a scullery maid hard at work