Lord Chamberlain's Department: Office of Robes: Accounts

The records in this Office of Robes series cover Queen Victoria's reign, from 1860 only.

The account books in this series note the salaries and pensions of her officials, and income tax paid, as well as sums paid out to trades and crafts persons patronised by the Queen. Victoria employed, for example, glovers, hatters, milliners, bonnet makers, silk and lace makers, providers of stays, corsets and shawls, embroiderers, plumassiers, jewellers, suppliers of pins and needles, florists, perfumers and stationers. The sums received from the paymaster general are also included here. These accounts were rendered quarterly.

The last volume covers the same accounts, but entered in a cash book on a daily basis: expenditure and receipts are shown and the balance was rendered annually.

Topics

Clothing

Government finances

Taxation

Pay and pensions

The Office of Robes had its origin in the Wardrobe of Robes in the twelfth century, and was charged with the care of the monarch's clothes and the accessories thereto; also the robes of state. It was closely allied to the Office of the Great Wardrobe. The officials of the Office varied from reign to reign, but the head was always a master of the robes, or mistress in the case of a queen.

Victoria's officials were a mistress, groom, clerk and messenger, as well as several more personal posts, such as dressers, wardrobe maids and a furrier.