#Noble families

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to A Great House (19th-20th Century) - The Lives of The Family

When we think of the Victorians, the grand old Gilded Age or the Edwardians, we all think of those big mansions and manors where some of our favourite stories take place. But who lived here and what did their lives too like?

Who are the Family?

The family are the owners of the house. They are the employers of the servants, the caretakers of the house/estate. Since we're discussing a great house family, they are usually upper-middle class or nobility. A family can consist of a couple and their children but since great houses are so large, sometimes extended family members would live with them such as unmarried aunts or widowed mothers.

Roles Within the Family

In this era, the gentleman of the house would be the head of the unit, even if his wife holds their title in her right. They were in charge of hearing the troubles of the tenants, they would meet with representatives from the estate, deal with lawyers and other officials. He would often meet with the butler to discuss the household but would not be totally involved in its day to day running.

The lady of the house was heavily usually involved in the running of the household. She would meet with the cook daily to discuss menus, work with the housekeeper to ensure the smoothing run of the house during and outside events, keep an eye on the household accounts, the stock of supplies and the welfare of the servants. She would be in charge of her daughters' education and would will also be heavily involved with the local charities of the region.

Children lived relatively seperate lives from their parents. They would usually be cared for by nannies, nursemaids or governesses. They would eat seperately, sleep in the nursery and usually be left behind while their parents travel for the Season. Sons may be educated outside the house, usually sent off to boarding school. When they are passed their education, they would move out of the house (unless they were the heir, then they may be expected to stay around) and join high society. Daughters would live at the house until they are married. It's common for unmarried daughters to remain in the household as spinsters, even after the death of their parents. Daughters would be educated in the house by their governess and their mother.

The Daily Schedule

Morning: At 9, the family would be awoken by the arrival of their hot water. Married ladies have the luxury of staying in bed to eat breakfast. Valets and lady's maids would arrive to dress the family after being summoned by the bell. Unmarried women and the men of the house would eat breakfast in the dining room. After breakfast, the couple would withdraw to their business of the day, such as meeting with estate agents or dealing with paperwork. Just before midday, the lady of the house meet chef to discuss menus. The children would go off to their lessons with their governess or tutors. Luncheon would be served at 1. After luncheon, the ladies of the house may travel to appointments such as fittings or paying calls to friends.

Afternoon: Tea would be served around four. After the tea is finished, the children would be brought down to spend time with their parents. With tea finished, the gentleman and lady would finish their work.

Evening: At 8, the butler signals the start of supper giving the family and any staying guests, 15mins or more to get ready. Valets and lady's maids would already be upstairs at this point, helping their master/mistress with dressing. When the family head downstairs, they linger in the drawing room to chat. They would dine together. The ladies would adjourn to the drawing room for coffee and tea while the men stay in the dining room to drink and smoke. When the men have finished, they join the ladies before going up to bed.

Social Aspect of the Great House

One of the main functions of a great house is society. The family would host gatherings in the off season when they aren't in the city for the social season. If one lives in the country, one might be expected to host relatives on hunting/stalking/fishing holidays. All those extra rooms can be let to guests staying the night. Bachelors would be kept on seperate floor from the unmarried daughters with couples rooming together or side by side. The Great House family is expected to be gracious hosts and spare no expense to their visitors. Servants would have to do many times more work and put up with a lot of nonsense because of the added work load.

[freuleinanna]

no but you do not understand we collectively spent YEARS heartbroken over donna! and doctor never ever got over losing her! and now they are together, and they have chosen each other for family, and donna's family has warmth enough for him, and they are happy and having dinners, and 14th is casually sneaking his niece away on adventure while making sure not to tell donna because she would obliterate him and IT'S OKAY THEY'RE CHOSEN SIBLINGS IT'S WHAT THEY FUCKING DO.

listen. LISTEN.

donna's every day was taken away from her.

the doctor has been running every day ever since.

and now they get to spend time together. not a brief trip in a tardis. not a reunion before parting forever. but every. day. every day, one after the other. and they are finally home.

[haventacluewhatimdoing]

Okay but Donna. DONNA. She gets to live her life with both her husband AND her platonic life partner. She'd wanted to be with him forever and now she CAN. She gets both a permanent romantic and permanent platonic partner. Who like each other. Who don't resent the other's existence. Do you understand how MONUMENTAL that is???

[a-bit-of-a-queer-one]

I just rewatched The Giggle (again...) and I know others have already said it, but Fourteen's happy ending being a normal life with his best friend and her family rather than with a romantic partner means the universe to me. I'm not sure I've ever seen found family be the happy end for any adult character without there being an element of romance to it before and it is beautiful

[nobleriver]

The Noble Family is BACK!

[g1ngerbeer]

some images ive made in the last couple months

[yesokayiknow]

fifteen saying 'i have no family' was just so funny to me. you're in london right now you could literally get a bus to donna's house

[probablybadrpgideas]

Concept: "Evil" species just have reverse aesthetics to everyone else

An orc shows up in gold and white armour with angelic decor, everyone welcomes him in, and he burns down the local old person's home.

The next orc is like "What the hell? The dude was dressed like a supervillain, and I put on my red and black skull armour specifically to make it clear I was the good guy! How did you mix this up?"

[ghost-bison]

I asked my mom "Why do you think Wilf loves and admires the Doctor so much when he seems so scared and weary of all the other aliens? What's so different about him to Wilf?" and she answered "It's because the Doctor makes his little Donna smile" and it nearly killed me y'all

[expelliarmus]

[novantinuum]

y'know, given how Steven KNOWINGLY chose to invite Pearl along on his and Greg's little Empire City vacation hoping to nudge them into a situation where they could finally work things out, him having that awkward little line of showing off his gem and saying "and don't forget Mom :DDDD" was ABSOLUTELY an intentional decision

the little mans was TRYING to drag up their little rift so they'd finally fucking talk about it oh my god Steven, idk whether to congratulate you or call you a master manipulator uhjfnsdjhg

[ffcrazy15]

Someone needs to do an analysis on the way the Kung Fu Panda movies use old-fashioned vs. modern language ("Panda we meet at last"/"Hey how's it going") and old-fashioned vs. modern settings (forbidden-city-esque palaces/modern-ish Chinese restaurant) to indicate class differences in their characters, and how those class differences create underlying tensions and misunderstandings.

[meemoop]

Regulus Black! First time drawing him 😅 I’m not well versed in Regulus’s lore, but I know he bravely deceived Voldemort so here’s him doing that. 👍

[garlicbreadfanatic]

Walburga Black: You are not good enough for my son, and I don't want you around him. End. Of. Story.

James: *at the door with a guitar* so why don't you give me one more-

*door is slammed in his face*

[valdeswan]

Choi Han: They say the surest way to a man’s heart is through the stomach.

Choi Han: But, I find going through the ribcage a lot easier.

noble that tried to flirt with Cale: *on the verge of tears*

[oldbookshop]

The Church on Ruby Road // The Giggle