Allington Castle: Working in Our First Live-in Domestic Couple Position

This page shares our journey from the very beginning, starting with our first role as a live-in domestic couple at Allington Castle. It was here that we took our initial steps into this unique and rewarding career, working as housekeeper/cook and handyman.

How We Became a Domestic Couple

A domestic couple standing in front of a lit fireplace.

The job advert

In February 2005, an ad in The Kent Messenger caught our eye. Allington Castle in Maidstone was looking for a live-in domestic couple. The ad read,

'Is there a couple looking for the opportunity to live and work on a 40-acre estate in the Gatehouse of a restored 13th Century Castle near Maidstone?'

We were intrigued. Neither Kirsten nor I had any experience in domestic service, nor had we imagined working at a castle. Coming from South Africa, where the oldest buildings only date back to the 1600s, the idea of living and working in a medieval castle felt surreal. The ad sparked our imaginations.

We applied, even knowing our chances were slim—especially since we had an eleven-year-old son and the ad didn't mention children.

A newspaper clipping advertising a live-in domestic couple job at Allington Castle

The interview with Sir Robert and Lady Worcester

To our surprise, just a few days later, Sir Robert and Lady Worcester invited us for an interview. We remember that day vividly—arriving at the gates (The Gatehouse, later to be our home) of Allington Castle, driving down the long, tree-lined road, and catching our first sight of the castle. It was breathtaking, like stepping into another era.

Despite our nerves and the fact that we brought our son with us to the interview, something that feels odd in hindsight, Sir Robert and Lady Worcester, the owners, warmly welcomed us. Meeting a Sir and Lady was far from anything we had experienced before, but they were warm and welcoming. The interview was fairly informal, with a mix of walking around the estate and ending up in The Great Hall for a cup of tea. And we don't know how we did it, but amazingly, they offered us the job on the spot. We left that day hardly believing our luck. How had we landed such an incredible opportunity with no experience?

Moving into our live-in accommodation in the Gatehouse at Allington Castle

We moved into the Gatehouse at Allington Castle in April 2005. The property, with its distinctive arched design, sits at the main entrance to the castle at the bottom of Castle Road. With Allington Lock on one side and Allington Marina on the other, the area was peaceful, secure, and full of charm. The Gatehouse itself inside was old and a bit dark, just as you’d expect from such a historic building, but it quickly became home—a place we made our own.

Making the Gatehouse a proper family home was a labour of love. We spent countless evenings and weekends transforming the garden into a safe, welcoming space for our son to play. He thrived in the outdoor setting, and his friends often stayed over, enjoying the freedom of the grounds. Sir Robert and Lady Worcester were always kind, encouraging the children to walk Thunder and Lightning, their two black Labradors. Sir Robert, in particular, loved showing the castle to our son’s school friends, making it a memorable experience for everyone who visited. These moments stand out as highlights of our time there.

Like most live-in roles at UK stately homes, all utilities, including gas and electricity, were covered by the employer. At the time, we couldn’t believe our luck, especially since just a month earlier, we hadn’t even known jobs like this existed—let alone ones that allowed couples or, in rare cases, families. Of course, with what we know now, we realise how uncommon it was for a live-in domestic couple role to accommodate children or pets. This arrangement was special, and we were grateful for it.

Looking back, those years in the Gatehouse were a unique chapter in our lives. It was a rare opportunity to blend work and family life in such a beautiful setting, and we’ll always treasure the memories we made there.

What was it like working at a castle?

Our time at Allington Castle was a period of personal growth and skill-building. Kirsten was the housekeeper/cook, with help from a daily housekeeper who came in a few days a week. Kirsten handled all the cooking from Monday to Friday. Lady Worcester often took over the cooking duties on weekends, giving us much-needed time off to spend with our son. I worked as the handyman, maintaining the castle and eight cottages, the pool, and ensuring the estate was always in good condition. Most of my days involved changing light bulbs and sweeping leaves. In fact, everyone was expected to have a broom in hand when not working on other tasks, as per Lady Worcester’s unspoken rule—if you weren't busy, you should at least look busy! Colin, who came in to help us sweep, clean windows, and run errands for Lady Worcester, was also a very valued member of our staff, and he always had a smile on his face and brought positive energy to the estate.

In those days, the castle had a full complement of staff. Besides us, there were four live-in gardeners and a daily live-out groundsman, all under the direction of Stewart, the estate manager. The castle mainly served as the private residence of Sir Robert and Lady Worcester, but we hosted a few small weddings in The Chapel at the castle each year and the occasional film shoot.

Although it was quieter back then compared to today, when weddings are more frequent, the work kept us busy and constantly learning. Sir Robert, a stickler for detail, had high expectations, especially when hosting guests and business meetings. Everything had to be done the "right way"—whether it was serving meals from the left and collecting plates from the right, or ensuring that champagne glasses were never held by the rim. His pet peeve? Serving mustard without a proper mustard spoon! Despite these challenges, Sir Robert and Lady Worcester were incredibly supportive and genuinely invested in our personal and professional development.

Sir Robert trusted me to rebuild the castle's lily pond, which became one of my favourite projects. I also built a shelter for the alpacas after Sir Robert enrolled me in an alpaca husbandry course when Lady Worcester bought him two for his birthday. Kirsten, too, had her opportunities to grow—she attended a cookery school to refine her culinary skills, preparing her to cater for larger events in the Great Hall.

Sir Robert’s two sons visited every Christmas, which meant we spent the holiday season decorating the Great Hall and preparing meals for the family. We got on well with both sons; they seemed nice enough, though they weren’t involved in the running of the estate.

On a separate occasion, we hosted Prince Edward, HRH, as a guest at the castle—a memorable experience for us.

One of the biggest events each year was the New Year’s Day party, where we would cater for 100 to 150 of Sir Robert and Lady Worcester’s friends and family. Later, this event shifted to a summer gathering in the gardens. Colin would always join us for these celebrations, bringing his famous eggnog, which was a hit every time and became a staple of the parties. Despite the hard work, the learning opportunities and the warm support from Sir Robert and Lady Worcester made our time at Allington Castle something we truly treasured. It felt like we were living the dream.

Sir Robert conducts our British citizenship ceremony

Craig, his son, and Sir Robert Worcester during Craig's British citizenship ceremony, with Sir Robert Worcester officiating the event.

Sir Robert's relationship with us extended beyond just our work. At that time, he was the Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Kent and a Kent County Council-appointed Kent Ambassador. When he heard that my son and I were applying for British citizenship, he personally conducted our citizenship ceremony, which was a significant milestone for us. Kirsten was born a British citizen, but for me and our son, having Sir Robert officiate made the occasion even more meaningful, reflecting the mutual respect and close bond we had built over the years.

We Left Allington Castle On Good Terms with Sir Robert Worcester

After several happy years working as a domestic couple at Allington Castle, Kirsten and I left in 2008 on very good terms. Sir Robert Worcester provided us with the following reference, which helped us secure three other domestic couple jobs:

"TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

I write with reference to the employment of Mr and Mrs Craig Bruun who have been employed at Allington Castle as Maintenanceman and Cook/Housekeeper since May 2005. They are an excellent couple. We are sorry to lose them and would re-employ. They are honest, conscientious, willing and pleasant to have around and we are sorry that they feel it’s time for a move.

I have no hesitation in recommending them to other potential employers.

Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL
16 October 2008