Expert: David Cross - 10/29/2005

Question
Dear Sir,

I am an American, age 62, and a life-long fan of Agatha Christie.  Recently retired, I am writing a book about her mystery novels in which I analyze all of the characters in particular and place the novels within their historical backgrounds, etc.  

In at least two or three of her novels I have encountered the word "boots" as being a certain employee of country inns.  In one novel a character says, "There was not so much as a boots at the inn..." (the inn was emptied of all staff for an inquest) and in another novel the police question "the boots."

What is "the boots," please, if you know.  These are novels published in the 1920s and 1930s and so possibly "the boots" is something no longer existing.  I gather from the context that it is some kind of hotel or inn employee.

An additional question:  in the Christie novels, railway passengers going from London to Southampton always seem to leave London from Waterloo Station.  I visited England in 1963, arriving by liner at Southampton and passengers destined for London boarded a train right at the docks of Southampton and the train was going "to Charing Cross."  Can you explain this?  Was the station Waterloo a long time ago and did trains later go from Southampton to London's Charing Cross station?  

These are details I would like to have correct in my book.

Thank you for your attention to this.

James Zemboy

Answer
Hi James
Yes, as far as I know, the term 'boots' is somewhat dated - it was used to me in the late 50s when I had a holiday job at a hotel in Devon and it seemed pretty archaic then. The reason I'm not certain is that the type of hotel where you might still find a 'boots' is not the sort of place I ever frequent - way too expensive.
The term was used to describe a menial male employee who,  in addition to general cleaning, used to pick up shoes or boots left by guests outside the bedroom door and return them after cleaning.
As for your question on Waterloo, I'm afraid I must be somewhat dated myself but you may well find a Londoner could give you the answer. As far as i know, Waterloo is one of the bigest London stations still and, frankly, I was surprised to hear that you didn't have to go there.
Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Best wishes
David