House Crazy Sarah doesn’t want servants… she does her own housework. But she’s always wanted an old house with a servant’s staircase.
Why? Just because they are so narrow and steep and unique. And House Crazy Sarah loves all things old and funky.
Servant staircases were typically located off the kitchen or back part of the house.
Old Victorian mansions required a large household staff to keep them running, but servants were expected to stay out of sight when they were coming and going.
Often prohibited from using the large main staircase that was reserved for the home’s family and guests, the servants were relegated to steep, narrow passageways meant to be strictly utilitarian.
Still, there is a certain charm and mystique about these hidden steps.
House Crazy Sarah scutters up and down these staircases in her imagination, and it is like walking through a time machine….
Often dark and spooky, these old back staircases are endlessly intriguing.
Do you have a house with a servant staircase? If so, share a photo!
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The 2nd and 4th photos here remind me of the stair cases at my high school best friend’s house, both small and circular, one went to the kitchen and the other into the living room–the kitchen stairs being for we presumed the servants of bygone years, the house is an old colonial, I think her folks are still there. Also in my town, one of my mum’s best friends/my auntie’s house has a (servant’s) stairway from the kitchen to the main landing off — her house a much larger colonial which she is itching to leave and downsize. She has the kitchen stairway blocked off with plants/now for many years!
Very cool! I wonder why she blocks off the staircase tho?
She did not want the grand kids running up and down–the main stair case was enough to keep track of!
Oh yes, I can relate to that, lol
My home was built in 1896. It was originally only 2 bedrooms. However, it still has a butlers pantry with swinging galley doors and a butlers staircase leading up to the attic / dry storage. The attic also had a spall floored area for a bed to be placed.
My grandmas house had servants quarters and all these stair cases. I have the architect drawing of the house – built in Hollywood in the 1910’s. I want to build models of it but had few photos of staircases. You pictures are a big help and bring back so many memories. The house was destructed in 1960’s but they used a lot of the woodwork in the construction or renovation of The Magic Castle in Hollywood. Famous, but private, club.