Find your ancestors in Establishment Lists for Master of the Household's Department 1835-1924

This department, dealing with domestic and culinary matters, was originally presided over by the Lord Steward, who was in charge of all 'below stairs' officers and staff. The Lord Steward, however, delegated much of the work to his subordinates, in particular the Master of the Household, and by the 1920s this department was renamed the Master of the Household's Department.

The department was responsible for the catering and official entertaining at all the Royal Palaces, and for all the domestic arrangements. This means that the staff in the department included all who worked in the Royal Kitchens, the Housekeeping staff, including housemaids, and some of the craftsmen who maintained the furnishings in the Royal Palaces.