About
The year was 1935: the twilight of the English aristocracy. It was a time of wealth and glamour; of lavish balls and evening gowns; of tiaras and a coronation. As personal maid to Lady Coventry, Hilda Newman had a unique insight into the leisured life of one of Britain's most noble families. In her fascinating memoir of life upstairs and down, Hilda takes us back to this period between the wars; a gilded era which would soon be dramatically changed by the Second World War.
Transplanted from a tiny house with no bath or hot water to an eighteenth-century Neo-Palladian mansion, Hilda's life changed beyond recognition. But in a time when the very foundations of British society were being shaken to their core, the luxurious life of the country nobility couldn't last. The Second World War brought more turbulence with it, and Croome Court, where Hilda had lived and worked, became a haven for the Dutch Royal Family fleeing Nazi occupation, whilst also home to a top-secret RAF base. The lavish banquets and decadent parties had become a thing of the past.
Hilda's story takes us back to a bygone era, showing us what life was really like in England's classic country manors of old - and uncovers the real lives of the people who occupied them, from wealthy lord to lowly servant. Tim Tate (Author)
Tim Tate is an award-winning documentary film maker and an author. He has produced and directed films for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Al Jazeera International, and the Discovery Channel. His work has won awards from Amnesty International, the Royal Television Society, UNESCO, The New York Festivals, the Association for International Broadcasting, and the US Cable Academy. He is the author of eight previous nonfiction books, including "Slave Girl."
The incredible true story told by former lady's maid, Hilda Newman, of what life was really like living and working amongst England's nobility... Just like Downton Abbey, Croome Court had its dramas both above and below stairs. The book is being re re-released to coincide with the arrival of the Downton Abbey film. Hilda's experiences working within a stately home are both authentic and unique, she has been able to offer an account of the changes which were taking place in British society during the turbulent period between the wars. Ghostwriter Tim Tate is an extremely experienced writer, having written several bestsellers, including Sunday Times Bestseller Slave Girl, TCM: 38k. Similar titles in this genre include Below Stairs (63k TCM), Aprons and Silver Spoons (43k TCM) and Lady's Maid (16k TCM).
Transplanted from a tiny house with no bath or hot water to an eighteenth-century Neo-Palladian mansion, Hilda's life changed beyond recognition. But in a time when the very foundations of British society were being shaken to their core, the luxurious life of the country nobility couldn't last. The Second World War brought more turbulence with it, and Croome Court, where Hilda had lived and worked, became a haven for the Dutch Royal Family fleeing Nazi occupation, whilst also home to a top-secret RAF base. The lavish banquets and decadent parties had become a thing of the past.
Hilda's story takes us back to a bygone era, showing us what life was really like in England's classic country manors of old - and uncovers the real lives of the people who occupied them, from wealthy lord to lowly servant. Tim Tate (Author)
Tim Tate is an award-winning documentary film maker and an author. He has produced and directed films for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Al Jazeera International, and the Discovery Channel. His work has won awards from Amnesty International, the Royal Television Society, UNESCO, The New York Festivals, the Association for International Broadcasting, and the US Cable Academy. He is the author of eight previous nonfiction books, including "Slave Girl."
The incredible true story told by former lady's maid, Hilda Newman, of what life was really like living and working amongst England's nobility... Just like Downton Abbey, Croome Court had its dramas both above and below stairs. The book is being re re-released to coincide with the arrival of the Downton Abbey film. Hilda's experiences working within a stately home are both authentic and unique, she has been able to offer an account of the changes which were taking place in British society during the turbulent period between the wars. Ghostwriter Tim Tate is an extremely experienced writer, having written several bestsellers, including Sunday Times Bestseller Slave Girl, TCM: 38k. Similar titles in this genre include Below Stairs (63k TCM), Aprons and Silver Spoons (43k TCM) and Lady's Maid (16k TCM).