Nanny West was the governess and the nanny for George Crawley and his cousin Sybil "Sybbie" Branson until she was sacked in February 1922.
Nanny West makes an enemy of Thomas Barrow after telling him not to touch Sybbie when he says hello as they are out walking with Sybbie in a pram. Thomas points out to her that he had known and worked with the child's mother, Sybil, and knew her well, whereas Nanny West did not. She later tries to give him orders and he pointedly ignores her. After she tries to tell him his place - which she says is below her - the infuriated Thomas gives a bad report of her to Cora Crawley. Thomas tells Cora that Nanny West is neglecting the children and leaving them unsupervised. Cora later goes to check up on her due to this report and overhears Nanny West speaking very unkindly to Sybbie, calling her a "wicked little cross-breed".
Cora sacks her on the spot and tells her she must leave in the morning and that she is not to be left alone with the children for another moment. Nanny West tries to insist she was playing a game and only joking, but Cora does not forgive her, insisting her "values have no place in a civilized home". She then has Mrs. Hughes find the now sacked nanny a room, and has her bring a maid up to sit with the children until a new nanny was engaged.
Notes
- It is implied, though never officially stated, that Nanny West was not only neglecting Sybbie but not feeding her properly as well, such as when she told Thomas she wanted the egg left out of Sybbie's tea but not George's.
Appearances
| Appearances and Mentions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 4 | Episode 1 Appears |
Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Christmas Special |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Downton Abbey Series 4 Press Pack, Page 3, ITV Press Centre, 12th Sept, 2013.