Great house

:For the architecture of great houses, see Mansion.

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A great house is a large and stately residence; the term encompasses different styles of dwelling in different countries. The name refers to the makeup of the household rather than to any particular architectural style. It particularly refers to large households of times past in Anglophone countries (especially those of the turn of the 20th Century, i. e. the late Victorian or Edwardian ages in the United Kingdom and the Gilded Age in the United States), such as the English country house, the "stately homes of England" and the homes of various "millionaires' row" (or "millionaires' mile") in some U.S. cities such as Newport, Rhode Island) with luxurious appointments and great retinues of indoor and outdoor staff. By some reports, the summer homes of the wealthy at Newport averaged four servants per family member. There was often an elaborate hierarchy among staff, domestic workers in particular.

Related Topics:
Residence - Household - Victorian - Edwardian - United Kingdom - Gilded Age - United States - English country house - Stately homes of England - Millionaires' mile - Newport, Rhode Island - Domestic worker

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It was considered declassé to refer to one's own townhouses, estates or villas (or those of friends) as mansions and modern etiquette books still advise that the terms house, big house or great house be used instead.

Related Topics:
Townhouse - Estate - Villa - Mansion

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Today's great houses are limited to the very well-to-do; royalty, aristocrats and people whose professions demand that they entertain, such as those in the diplomatic service and chief executive officers. The International Guild of Butlers estimates that the annual salaries of a 20-25 person household staff total in excess of US$1,000,000.

Related Topics:
Royalty - Aristocrat - Diplomatic service - Chief executive officer

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In countries with supplies of cheap domestic labour, the middle classes are still able to afford household help, but not approaching the numbers involved in the running of a great house.

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