Most families had just one servant. Most wives employed
some other woman or child to help in washing and scouring or in
the minding of the children.
London had grown beyond the locations of its walls around the
City. London stretched ten miles along the Thames, and was three
miles wide in the center. On the east of the City was the port and
industry. The west side ended at Hyde Park and Regent's Park and
was residential. In 1710 it was still possible to shoot woodcock
in Regent Street. In 1750, Westminster Bridge was opened. In 1760,
the City walls were taken down to ease congestion. The typical
London house, usually brick, was on a rectangular plan and had a
basement to utilize all the space possible. There were pictures on
the walls which were now more covered with damask, brocade, silk,
and wallpaper hung and plain paint than by wood wainscoting. On
the first floor was a front hall or parlor and a back parlor. One
of these parlor rooms was the most important room, where the
family entertained or spent leisure time. In it were sofas,
armchairs, and stools of mahogany or white gilded wood. They were
upholstered with damask or needlework. Imported mahogany was
replacing as a favorite the walnut that was usually used instead
of oak. Much wood was inlaid with a variety of woods. There was
also a carved tripod table, china table, card table, and perhaps
bookcases and/or tea-table.
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