The Real Mrs Crocombe | Part Five: Life Below Stairs 

I finally got out to Audley End for a visit on my last long trip to London, and I cannot recommend it enough! Getting there is a bit of a journey - up on the train toward Cambridge then about 20 minutes of walking along a road (we were told there are taxis but that they require over an hour wait to be picked up or dropped off). Don’t let that deter you and you won’t be disappointed- it’s even more lovely in person than in the videos and they have delicious picnics you can purchase and go out on the grounds. I can’t wait to bring more friends to visit!! ❤️

4:18 "It's a really large entourage to serve just two people." But of course, they didn't just serve two people, or even their guests. They served each other as well. The cooks and laundry and gardeners etc. all serviced one another's needs as well as those of the owners. And so, ironically, the more servants you get, the more servants you need in order to see that those servants' needs are met. A servant who spends all day scrubbing pots cannot ALSO cook her own meals and do her own laundry or raise her own garden. So it really was a deeply interactive community. The lives of servants fascinates me far more than the lives of rich people.

English heritage do you realise how many views Mrs crocombe pulls in, more than any other English heritage video, this actress deserves an interview charting her role and how she studied and played the character

I wonder if the original Mrs. Crocombe ever considered that people are studying her life and others to learn more about servanthood in Victorian times

We would really love to see the sweet lady behind Mrs Crocombe. Please make a video showing an interview with her, in a modern setting. She does it so well. She hardly has any social media coverage.

I am glad you are giving the servants a voice. I enjoy costume drama as much as anyone, but it does tend to either bypass the servants, or dehumanise them.

I wonder what the real Mrs. Crocombe would have thought about thousands of people being so excited to hear about her life a and see her recipes.

🌿🌺🌿 it's so good to see Mrs Crocombe. Great that so many people from so far distant also love the videos. Viva to the Mrs ! 🌿🌺🌿

Imagine dying, only to become famous and beloved centuries after your death. What a wonderful impact her life had on human history. You truly never know how much of an impact your life will have just by simply living.

This channel is a blessing. Ever since I was young, I've always been intrigued by British, European, American and Caribbean history. English history and its Eras fascinates me the most. Thanks English Heritage for reviving a mere fraction of the Victorian Era. Much love and support!

I think it’s time that Mrs. Crocomb has her own tv show. 5 minuet videos are not enough. thank you very much.

Mrs Crocombe is love Mrs Crocombe is life

As an "armchair historian" and Anglophile, I so enjoy your videos. Dr. Gray's enthusiasm is infectious and delightful! The videos that are produced make history accessible and entertaining, which is one of the most difficult objects to achieve when examining historical life and times. To spark that interest to look behind to learn about ourselves is an inestimable talent and gift. Thank you so much for your wonderful videos. If Dr. Gray has authored a book(s) I would appreciate the title(s). If not, ask her to get cracking on to that as her enthusiasm and knowledge would make a thrilling read. Thank you, from Louisiana, U.S.A.

I absolutely love Mrs Crocombe! Please make more vids of her cooking? I've watched the ones you have up several times.. can't get enough! Wish I could go to England, like those two girls who went there, and meet her! Perhaps I could be an extra in one of the shows..

I’m so glad you have done this! It’s so important to share the stories of those who tend to go unnoticed in history.

Still waiting for that episode of Real Mrs. Crocombe where they sit and chat with the Actress who brilliantly portray Mrs. Avis Crocombe.....

i love mrs Crocombe, she is so nice and polite. I think that these videos are so interesting. It's a pity that we don't have video like that in Italy.

Really we love Mrs. Crocombe

I’m really drawn to your historical representations about the folks that worked there - thank you so much for spending the time and your energy and creating a new history for us to share on RU-vid. I really enjoyed it and I am not quite sure why I am so drawn to these characters but it is a testament to the work that you’ve done - thanks again :)

We love Mrs. Crocombe!

never clicked on a video this fast before, finally! more of the wonderful tale of Mrs. Crocombe!

I'm not English, but I really like your videos. I'm from the Philippines, and people over here don't value history and culture as much because they "don't put food on the table". It's quite sad, but I understand where they're coming from--history is one of the last things on your mind when you're starving. In all honesty, I envy English people. You have groups like English Heritage creating contents like this; restoring/preserving grand houses; and keeping both old and new records about English culture and history. It's great! Appreciate them, please. Your taxes are not wasted! :P I really hope I could visit the UK one day. I need enough money, and to secure a visa, to be able to go there, though. Wish me luck haha! Another great content, EH! Looking forward to your future posts.

YES! More Mrs Crocombe!

I´m from Portugal, yet I find this little series super interesting. It´s so amazing to take a peek into the victorian era, and how people lived back then. Keep up the good work!

Chere Mme Crocombe , you are the only person on RU-vid that I comment on , you seem so real to us that I find myself getting more and more interested in you and your life . Thanks to English Heritage , mais surtout VIVRE Mme Crocombe . Bonjour de la Charente Maritime

I would like to see Mrs Crocombe in action, interacting with her staff, and Lord and Lady Braybrooke.. perhaps getting the menu for the day, or talking about a new maid, in which Mrs Crocombe is introduced to by Lady Braybrooke.

I love how she talk with such passion about the project. We can see clearly how this whole thing is quite important and loved. I think this is the standing point to this youtube channel, it got heart with all the people involved

Thank you so much for preserving history, these episodes are such a joy to watch!

I love this series and hope visit Audley End some day. But, I'd like to know a little bit about the precious lady who portrays Mrs Crocombe.

Love the insight into what life was really like for the folks running the estate ! Wonderful video, thank you !!

I liked this video and series but am just a teensy bit disappointed not to be seeing Mrs.Crocombe at work. Forgive me if I’ve missed it, but has anyone tracked down any descendants of hers?

I love the videos of Avis Crocombe. Its so great to get a glimpse of life in England back then.

Fascinating! Would love to see longer, more in depth videos!

Who else is watching this in 1881?

Wow, im sure the royal family up in the front is interesting but I always found it so much fascinating seeing what goes on behind the scene that we don't get to see as public viewers. Absolutely amazed at this project English Heritage, I love it!! OMG, all I ever grew up with thats not even remotely close is watching the sitcom show, The Nanny.

Thanks for creating these . I enjoy watching! :)

Thank you for this perspective.

You _were_ involved? It's not over yet, is it? We love Mrs Crocombe far too much for this to end - ever.

Interesting video. Crippling absence of our dearest Avis. I see more and more fans of hers.. you should give Kathy a bonus for drawing so many people in! ;)

Thank you for telling us how many people were employed there. I thought that there were more, quite honestly.

YAY!!! A NEW one!!! Keep them coming!!!

What a great project! Really god job! The history and the knowledge of it must be saved and spread!

I love this series. Mrs Crocombe inspired me to bake more in my kitchen.

I love these Mrs Crocombe videos

Lovely! Too short! LOL! I have watched so many docs and movies about this subject but this is one of my faves. Love you guys! Wish I could visit.😳😍🇬🇧

Hello from Louisville Kentucky I’m really enjoying this series. I love the history and all that comes with it. Thank you for sharing.

Liked the background to this start of this series and would love and interview of the actor who plays the cook!

Thank you.

First all, hello from USA!! Second I really would like to see a weekly series with Mrs Crocombe cooking. I love historical cooking videos. Esp one she did with Townsend's (which is how came across this channel).

Sending love from MALAYSIA. Would love to visit someday.

Very nice work.u guys could do reconstruction about the tenants too who lived in the palace:lord and lady Braybrooke?and the rest of the family

I tell you, if this were to be made into a television series like Downton Abbey, I'd be hooked on it as I am to this channel. Please make it possible 🙏🙏💚💜💚💜

Would LOVE to see a series or set of episodes about the front of the house servants like the butler, footmen, maids, etc. Especially how they dressed and what work was like.

*_Nice video_*

Ms Crocombe I miss your cooking vids :(

I wonder what it cost to operate the house for a year?

This Channel Super Amazing 😀

Suddenly I feel like binging Downton Abbey.

I have an undying love for the Victorian era, working there sounds like heaven on earth. But unfortunately I live in the States so there isn't much hope to even vist.

I want to hear more about their life bellow stairs there sonda tralla interesting

So Mrs. Crocombe cooked for The Family and probably for the indoor staff, but who cooked for the outdoor staff, the grooms men and the gardeners? ❤🌅🌵

Bring back Mrs. C❣️

I would love to see an interview with the woman who plays mrs crocombe

How different was the menu for The Family from the staff? With love ❤ from sunny 🌅 Arizona 🌵

I really wanna go there 😭😭😭

Why don't they have programs like this in the US

The Disneyland of Europe! I want to visit!!

I am very addicted.

In a way it way good that only two people employed so much staff.

Do you have available reproductions of the cookbooks you are using ?

I knew it.it was you.do the paper very well you make me laugh. Cause the way you look at Mrs Crumpton i think thats how you spell her name.

When I first started watching these videos I thought Mrs. Crocombe along with other characters were made up in order to represent the life during the time. To think that these people actually exists and lived their own lives once before is astounding to me

The Real Mrs. Crocombe | Part Five: Life Below Stairs? The English Heritage version of click bait. LOL

Wait so Mrs. Crocombe only had 2-3 hands at best to help her make food her a whole family and any guests they had, so she ain't being shady about the rhubarb soup, she's THAT busy.

Wouldn't life above stairs be more interesting, since many tasks below stairs may be similar for each country house, depending on numbers of available staff?

This is probably a long shot but I noticed on the 1881 census a few lines above Avis was a Collins listed as "son" could anyone send me information on that?

whats the song in the background

Luckily there was a fire, and here we are today🤗

Food histrorian, I wish there're those courses in Thailand.

2:30 Westie!

Its mind boggling how many people had to dedicate their lives working all day just for a few ppl to live comfortably.

Mrs. Crocombe ! ..... What’s for dinner ?

Did the actress who played Mrs Crocombe get fired or something? I've rewatched the videos. There hasn't been a recent one.

I hate history, but this is just so cool!

The title of this video is a tad misleading. I'm disappointed.

I wonder how many times did Mrs crocomber had to lay with the master

Sorry i only know kathy hipperson

Those pants...

I really like your videos, but I am a little disappointed with this one. Your project is really interesting, however, I would have liked to get more information about the life of servants downstairs. Tell me more about WHAT these scientists found out and not how and when the project took place.

How has this series made me have a huge weird attraction to Mrs. Crocombe. God I'm such a useless lesbian like what IS THIS????? I'm a Crocombe fangirl, what does that even MEAN? Dead.

This was his first job?? Meanwhile in the US you need 16 years experience for any thing...

Short video cut even shorter by a lot of background. Lots of promise, little delivery.

Big fire? Ciel Phantomhive?

duck

I don't understand why they always let her dress so casual. She's representing something and speaking on its behalf.

Got to keep that largely empty house clean for Lord and Lady.

I wish they would hire a woman of color to play characters but sadly no due to slaves and what not. I think it still would have been fun to re create stuff

I just started to watch this video didn't even like it yet, just to notice it was liked for me...what's up with that?

Those mics they are wearing are awfully big. The ones that are used in America are much smaller.

Why are you wearing a t-shirt with "YES CHI CoN" (with the o in the style of a Barack Obama logo)? The t-shirt detracts from the story and looks ridiculous.