THE lid has been lifted on the secret lives of servants who were once employed at a grand mansion near Droitwich Spa.

Peering into the past at Hanbury Hall not only provides an insight into auspicious lifestyles of it former owners, but also reveals what living 'downstairs' was like.

Servants were the backbone of any successful estate in Britain, including the grand hall at Hanbury, but employers were never keen to cast their eyes on staff slaving away.

Snobs Tunnel is a perfect example of this, says Louise Slater, the halls visitor services manager.

"The underground path cuts under the lawn and provided a link between the wall garden and the kitchen. We are not sure when it was built, but it allowed servants to gather vegetables from the garden and transfer them to the kitchen for dishes to be served that night, without being seen."

Even hundreds of years ago image was everything and families did not want their guests to see servants sweating to get a meal on the table."The employer would want his home to appear to run effortlessly," added Louise.

Taking visitors behind the scenes is something Louise is keen to do this year.

The National Trust property still boasts its Victorian Diary, where servants would produce and store milk, cheese and cream for daily use in the kitchens. Although it has not been used for many years, Louise said the building is in remarkable condition and has original slate shelving and tiles. The hall had its very own milkmaid and her colleagues would have included footmen, a butler, cook, housemaids, grooms and a team of gardeners.

Louise told the Advertiser: "We have census records which show who was working at the hall during different periods. Local residents could come along and examine them if they think their ancestors could have worked here."

The hall also has the original ashpans which workers would have used. The toilets were earth closets, which flushed into a bucket containing dry earth or ash instead of water. Ash and earth was so good at absorbing and deodourising the contents of the bucket that it could be re-used and was a very green option.

Hanbury Hall, a William & Mary-style house, was built in 1701. It is famed for beautiful painted ceilings and staircase, but has other unusual features including an orangery, ice house and Moorish gazebos.

The recreated 18th century garden is surrounded by 400 acres of parkland and has parterre, wilderness, and fruit garden, open grove and bowling green pavilions. Look out for special exhibitions featuring the lives of servants later this year.