1891
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Culture
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The Staff
of Craig-y-Nos
The Staff of Craig-y-Nos.
The chef Adami is framed in the doorway, on
the right.
Patrocini sits at the extreme right
Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery
During her years married to Ernest Nicolini, Adelina Patti hosted many parties
and performances at the Castle and needed a large staff for her lavish lifestyle.
At one stage there were seventy, which brought a considerable amount of work
and prosperity into the local community. She was a very loyal and generous employer
and seems to have been adored by them She cared for her staff even after they
were no longer employed by her, allowing them to live in the castle if they
had nowhere else to go.
Ethel Rosate-Lunn, who went to work for Madam Patti in the early twentieth
century, recalls that the staff ". . . lived together like a happy family."
She also recalled how Madame would:
". . . often invite the staff to dress in any fancy
dress available and assemble after dinner in the billiard room. Madame, too,
would often dress in fancy dress; generally it was a dress that she had worn
in opera, and for a while she would enjoy herself with us. Then she would
turn to Daniel Longo, the butler, and say 'Pop the corks Longo',
this being the signal for the drinks, and we would all, Madame included, drink
a glass of champagne or port. I well remember a night when she entertained
us by dancing and playing the castanets. What a delightful figure she made
as she danced and played in Spanish costume."
Christmas was also a happy time for
the staff at Craig-y-Nos. However, the revelries were few and far between during
Madame's final marriage to Baron Cederstrom and only occurred when he was
away. It would seem that the Baron was mindful of the need for the household
to be rather more careful with money than was Madame's custom.
Madame was not at home when the 1891 census was taken but her household consisted
of the following people, drawn from far and wide:
1891 Census |
Craig-y-Nos Castle,
Ystradgynlais Higher |
Name |
Position in
household |
Marital
status |
Age |
Occupation |
Place of Birth |
English/Welsh
speaker |
Signor Nicolini |
Head |
M |
66 |
Living on his means |
Tours France |
French, English, Italian, Spanish |
A Nicholas |
Visitor |
M |
68 |
Living on his means |
Tours France |
French, English |
Wilh Heck |
Serv |
S |
40 |
Steward |
Malmedy Germany |
German, ?, English |
Nicolas Diels |
Serv |
S |
30 |
Cook |
Meune France |
French, Spanish |
N G Norris |
Serv |
M |
50 |
Butler |
Hampshire |
English |
Ellen Hartley |
Serv |
S |
30 |
Cook |
Lancashire Liverpool |
English |
Mary Griffiths |
Serv |
S |
32 |
Housemaid |
Breconshire Ystradgynlais |
English |
Ann Morgan |
Serv |
S |
27 |
Housemaid |
Breconshire Ystradgynlais |
English |
Margaret Williams |
Serv |
S |
22 |
Housemaid |
Cardiganshire |
English |
Rachel Potter |
Serv |
S |
21 |
Housemaid |
Breconshire Ystradgynlais |
English |
Caroline Potter |
Serv |
S |
16 |
Housemaid |
Breconshire Ystradgynlais |
English |
Constantine Hibbert |
Serv |
S |
27 |
Head Gardener |
Derbyshire Burslow |
English |
William Hinton |
Serv |
S |
28 |
Gardener |
Bucks Claydon |
English |
Thomas F Jones |
Serv |
S |
23 |
Gardener |
Shropshire |
English |
David Giddings |
Serv |
S |
21 |
Gardener |
London Highgate |
English |
David Edwards |
Serv |
S |
21 |
Gardener |
Breconshire Devynock |
Both |
William Wright |
Serv |
S |
21 |
Labourer |
Gloucestershire |
English |
Harry Bedice |
Serv |
S |
27 |
Gardener |
Shropshire Lydbury |
English |
Thomas Bevan |
Serv |
M |
48 |
Coachman |
Pembrokeshire |
English |
George Marsh |
Serv |
S |
20 |
Groom |
Somerset Church Hill |
English |
Timothy O'Donovan |
Serv |
M |
50 |
Game Keeper |
Ireland Cork |
Both |
William May |
Serv |
M |
55 |
Coachman |
Glamorganshire Neath |
English |
There was also a gamekeeper living in the Lodge:
Keeper's Lodge |
Name |
Position in
household |
Marital
status |
Age |
Occupation |
Place of Birth |
English/Welsh
speaker |
Francis A White |
Head |
M |
30 |
Gamekeeper |
Glamorgan Cowbridge |
English |
Emma White |
Wife |
M |
25 |
|
Glamorgan |
English |
The Head Gardener Constantine Hibbert was in Madame Patti's employ for
many years and was still with her when she died in 1919. She often used to visit
his cottage on her daily walks as she adored his five children, especially his
eldest son Hector. Ethel Rosate-Lunn recalled:
". . . Con Hibbert was talking to [Madame] and mentioned
that he had rheumatism in his hand. She said to him 'Con, I have seen
a ring advertised that is supposed to be good for rheumatism in the hand;
I will get you one.' She did so, and she would often ask him if the ring
gave him relief and he would say 'Yes Milady.' But as he often said
to me there was more diplomacy than truth in what he said."
Two other members of staff not mentioned on this census were held in particular
esteem. One was the chef who joined her a little later Adamo
Adami, and another was Lorenza Couroneu de Patrocini.
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