The Spanking Writers

A rather fascinating programme on Channel 4 recently. “Upstairs downstairs love” told the tale of a Victorian gentleman, Arthur Munby, who took a particular interest in working-class women. Breaking all conventions, he formed a relationship with Hannah Cullwick, a servant, and they eventually married in secret after 20 years.

When they died, many years later, he ordered that their papers - their diaries, and the photographs he’d had taken of her - be locked away. Decades later, they were opened and formed the basis of the programme - which was touching and fascinating, albeit tinged with a touch of sadness at the thought of a couple having to be so secretive about their love for each other.

That fetish underpinned their relationship was clear from the programme. Arthur gave her a chain with a padlock, to wear at all times. As she wrote in her diary: “I am his slave and he is my master”.

Although spanking didn’t appear to be part of their thing, two particular anecdotes give rise to wonderful scene ideas. First, there was the occasion when Hannah invited Arthur into the house in which she worked as a maid, and took him into her mistress’s bedroom. She showed him the lady’s ballgown: he made her put it on for him. “Thus she stood before me to be looked at, smiling and slightly blushing,” his diary recorded.

…and I’m transported to another grand London townhouse, and the look of horror on the faces of the two servant girls, frozen to the spot as the bedroom door opens and their mistress - returned home unexpectedly - walks in to find them wearing her best dresses.

“My husband will deal with this on his return this evening,” the lady would say, although she would set proceedings in motion by instructing the butler to cut some switches from the garden. Later, in the candlelit drawing room, that they were good, conscientious girls would save them their jobs and reputations, but cost them each the soundest of whippings.

And then the programme explored the difference in dress and demeanour between ladies and working-class girls. (When Arthur dressed Hannah in ladies’ clothes, and walked through the streets with her, other servants spied the impostor and they hissed insults). The programme explained: no lady would ever walk unaccompanied in the street, whilst her dress would distinguish her from the rabble.

…and the gentleman frowned as he read the note from his close acquaintance, recently delivered by messenger. “I have just caught my daughter dressed in the clothes of a servant, about to leave our house alone. She initially refused to tell me her destination; on being punished - for her deceit and her disobedience, she reluctantly revealed a planned rendezvous with your daughter near to Kensington Gardens.”

She’d try to explain, knowing there was no explanation that could save her. He’d raise a hand: “I know of your little scheme already. Your friend has already been punished for it.” He’d ring a bell to call the butler, who’d appear in a flash. “It appears that my daughter wishes to know what life is like for the maids in the house, James. Would you take her downstairs, have her strip out of these inappropriate clothes and bend over the kitchen table? And make sure that you whip her quite as hard as you would the very worst-behaved serving girl?”