Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- The rise of the estate steward
- The steward's career
- The whole duty of a steward
- Between lord and tenant
- Returns to London
- The ambassador
- Tending the interest
- The almoner
- Filling the pulpit
- The constable: defending the manor
- The constable: defending the forests
- Exploiting the estate
- The clerk of works
- Master and man
- A note on the manuscript sources
- Index
- Title in the series
The steward's career
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- The rise of the estate steward
- The steward's career
- The whole duty of a steward
- Between lord and tenant
- Returns to London
- The ambassador
- Tending the interest
- The almoner
- Filling the pulpit
- The constable: defending the manor
- The constable: defending the forests
- Exploiting the estate
- The clerk of works
- Master and man
- A note on the manuscript sources
- Index
- Title in the series
Summary
'tis a great trust, and a man of temper, with abilities and good experience will be of great service to your lordship's estate and interest.
Sir Henry Parker to the Earl of Northampton, 1693[I] hope as I am willing to show myself a gentleman towards you in all my actions, so you [will] give a testimony you love a gentleman's interest more than the clowns'
Viscount Cholmondeley of Kells to William Adams, 1679If absenteeism persuaded more and more landowners to entrust their estates to stewards, rather than relying on ‘mere’ bailiffs or rent-collecting managers of the home farm, in what manner of men did they choose to place their trust? Once appointed, stewards, as we have seen, enjoyed a social status which reflected their employer's rank. As one steward, after successfully negotiating the release of an estate servant from the press gang, succinctly expressed it to his master: he had observed ‘much respect to you and to me for your sake’. Inevitably the steward of a senior nobleman carried far more weight than the steward of a mere gentleman or even a baronet, however wealthy. Nevertheless the men who were employed had their own status before they were hired. In general it can be said that landowners sought men of substance, education and experience drawn from the ranks of gentlemen, or at least from the substantial yeomanry.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Stewards, Lords and PeopleThe Estate Steward and his World in Later Stuart England, pp. 23 - 41Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1992