BEFORE the 1930s when Knightshayes Court was home to the H eathcoat Amory family, it had a complement of servants which included a cook, scullery maid, kitchen maid, three housemaids, an odd job man and an electrician.

All had their particular roles to play in ensuring the smooth running of the household. The lowest ranking of the female servants was the scullery maid, who was an assistant to the kitchen maid, whose duties included the most physical and demanding tasks in the kitchen, such as cleaning and scouring the floor, stoves, sinks, pots and dishes. She would also help cleaning vegetables, plucking fowl and scaling fish.

Housemaids looked after cleaning and other domestic chores, such as ironing, grocery shopping, and washing.

Footmen were something of a luxury and a status symbol. Originally they ran beside or behind the carriage of their employers, to ensure that the carriage was not overturned in ditches or by tree roots. They also ran ahead to prepare the destination for their master's arrival.

Footmen would perform a range of duties including cleaning silver, serving meals, opening and closing doors, carrying heavy items and moving furniture so housemaids could clean under and behind it.

The lowest male servant was the hallboy, usually a boy or teenager, who would be expected to work long hours and his duties would include cleaning boots and, in earlier times, emptying chamber pots of the higher ranking servants.

The role of the butler for centuries had been that of the chief steward of a household, entrusted with the care and serving of wine and other bottled beverages.

Originally a middle ranking member of staff, by the 17th and 18th centuries the butler would often be regarded as the senior male member of the household's staff.

The cook was responsible for the preparation of daily meals and menus, as well as menus for parties and other special occasions. The cook was also responsible for ordering food, the maintenance of the kitchen and keeping household accounts with local merchants.

The position reported directly to the lady of the house.

Mrs Babbage, the cook at Knightshayes Court, left a large collection of recipes including such delights as iced pea soup, fillets of sole with banana, cold mousse of eggs, sweetbreads in pots, chicken cream with tomato ice, and a selection of curries.

Produce from the kitchen garden would have been used by the cook and is used today in the restaurant.

Knightshayes Court is open daily (house closed Fridays) until October 31, from 11am-5pm. There is free parking and access to the gift shop, plant centre and restaurant. There is a Food Festival on September 5, from 11am-5pm.