the maid's room

This is thought to have beeen the maid's room in Gustav Holst's boyhood family's house in Cheltenham. It looks a bit like a cupboard to me, but their maid was lucky because, until the 1880s, miads had to sleep either under the stairs or in the kitchen.
When Gustav Holst grew up, married, and had his own family home, there was no maid's room as it was against his socialist principles to have a maid.
The origins of Boxing Day are unclear but Wikipedia gives one possibility:
"Since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food."

[Denise]

Wow...an interesting glimpse of history. Love the chamber pot. Thanks for sharing the information too.

[Linda]

Nice composition & an interesting bit of history!

[Julie Duncan]

Very interesting photo and commentary! I've always wondered about Boxing Day!

[Hazel]

@juliedduncan

I think it could also be for tradesmen too. Definitely a seasonal gift from rich to poor!

[Richard Hickey]

Nice picture and story.

[Pat Knowles]

A very simple abode but the bed looks comfortable.

[Jill T.]

I like looking at the details like floors, worn plaste and ceiling slope.

[Margaret Brown]

What a simple room and a interesting insight to a piece of history

[Malc Bird]

Interesting piece of social history - thank goodness times have moved on a bit.

[Pyrrhula]

Great and interesting tale of history and a informative pic. with it.
The reason why my Mother came to Holland was for this occupation. After WW1 people in Germany were very poor and my Mum came to Holland
to serve a wealthy family.