What is "groom porter"

Groom \Groom\, n. [Cf. Scot. grome, groyme, grume, gome, guym, man, lover, OD. grom boy, youth; perh. the r is an insertion as in E. bridegroom, and the word is the same as AS. guma man. See Bridegroom.]

1. A boy or young man; a waiter; a servant; especially, a man or boy who has charge of horses, or the stable.
   --Spenser.

2. One of several officers of the English royal household, chiefly in the lord chamberlain's department; as, the groom of the chamber; the groom of the stole.

3. A man recently married, or about to be married; a bridegroom.
   --Dryden.

   Groom porter, formerly an officer in the English royal household, who attended to the furnishing of the king's lodgings and had certain privileges.

The Groom-Porter was an office at the royal court of the kings of England, who had 'the Inspection of the King's Lodgings, and takes care that they are provided with Tables, Chairs, Firing, &c. As also to provide Cards, Dice, &c. when there is playing at Court: To decide Disputes which arise in Gaming'. He was also responsible for 'oversight of common Billiards Tables, common Bowling Grounds, Dicing Houses, Gaming Houses and Common tennis Courts and power of Licensing the same within the Citys of London and Westminster or Borough of Southwark. Eventually, the term became used for the owner, or operator of a gaming hall.

The title may originally have referred to the keeper of the king's furnishings in his bedchamber. It was a position in the royal household, and therefore had certain privileges associated with it.

In 1702 the remuneration was raised to £680 per year, which it remained until it was abolished with other sinecure offices at court in 1782.