Ruby Finch ( born 1892 ) , is a fictional character in the British television series , '' Upstairs , Downstairs '' . She was portrayed by Jenny Tomasin . She is the kitchen maid at Eaton Place . She was preceded by Doris ( Maggie Wells ) , Nellie ( Sylvia Brayshay ) and Emily , who in I Dies from Love falls hopelessly in love with a footman and commits suicide . The scullery maid is a hardworking young woman who is rather slow and is frequently scolded by Mrs Bridges.It is suggested several times that she is mildly mentally retarded . Ruby first comes to Eaton Place in 1908 or 1909 , just after Elizabeth 's marriage to Lawrence , but leaves in 1915 to become a munitionette at Silvertown . She returns early in the following year after the factory is destroyed in the Silvertown explosion . She briefly leaves again in 1929 to become maid of all work to the middle class dragon Mrs Waddilove . In 1930 she goes with Mr and Mrs Hudson to work at their boarding house with hopes to inherit it after their deaths
Silvertown explosion
Silvertown explosion
Ruby Finch