Keeping alive the history of Britain's national treasures
There are 25,000 room stewards in Britain, most of whom are women. They patrol the rooms of stately homes and open houses, answering visitors' questions, guarding valuable treasures and acting as story-tellers to the captive audience who troop through each year.
They have in the past been caricatured as self-elected, twin-set-and-pearl-wearing 'Queens of the Realm', but the service they provide has now been recognised in projects like VisitBritain, which encourages tourism at home.
Victoria Shepherd meets some of the women who have given years of service 'stewarding' rooms around the country. She began at Charleston in East Sussex and also spoke to Paula Weideger author of Gilding the Acorn about the enduring appeal of the room steward.
Gilding the Acorn
by Paula Weideger
published by Simon & Schuster
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