Author: Liam Spinage
Directions: At the end of the passage, turn left into the Kitchen.
Transcript
The Bells Passage isn’t really a room, but it was one of the most important places in the house, the nerve centre of the whole manor, really. Each bell, with its own distinctive tone, is connected by a system of wires to a particular room. So imagine you’re the butler, who was generally responsible for allocating which servant went to which room. You’d have to stay close by as you were engaged in your other duties and be vigilant to every ring. Everywhere else in the house is just a ‘room in waiting’ until its bell rings.
Of course, you’d have to respond quickly. The bell ringing is the first part of the journey really. Since you the then have to head to the right room, and then come back here to make sure staff were ready to carry out the request.
The bell ringing is only the first part of the journey, really, since you’d then have to head to the right room to deal with the request, then come back here and make sure the staff were ready to carry it out. So this really is the hub of all the activity in the surrounding servants’ rooms.
Over time, you’d get used to which bell was which by the noise alone and even maybe which bell was likely to go off at what time. Being able to predict which nerve might tingle, and when, and why, and then act on reflex, could give one in service a sense of great pride, a bond between staff and family.