10 Downing Street, the locale of British prime ministers since 1735, vies with the White House as being the most important political building anywhere in the world in the modern era. Jones, in letter from Margaret Thatcher used as a preface to the book. Claimed. More extensive changes occur when a new Prime Minister takes office and redecorates. [155] (See works from the Government Art Collection currently on display at Number 10[156]), About a dozen paintings are changed annually. In addition to the large carpet previously described, the Pillared State Drawing Room also contains a marble-topped table by Kent. Any original materials that were beyond repair such as the pair of double columns in the Cabinet Room would be replicated in detail. Behind its. The original door was put on display in the Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms. About: 10 Downing Street Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. The town house, from which the modern building gets its name, was one of several built by George Downing between 1682 and 1684. This website uses cookies to improve your browsingexperience and analyze the use of the website. Emmeline Pankhurst and other suffragette leaders stormed Downing Street in 1908;[73] anti-Vietnam War protestors marched there in the 1960s, as did anti-Iraq War protestors in 2005. Prime Ministers made historic announcements from the front step. [37] This small house and the mansion at the back were then incorporated into Number 10. [61][62] (See Numbers 10, 11, and 12 Downing Street First Floor Plan[63] and Ground Floor Plan. It is now painted terracotta. Montreal Residential Phone Book, White Pages Canada This time the Board of Works declared that "the Repairs, Alterations & Additions at the Chancellor of the Exchequer's House will amount to the sum of 5,580, exclusive of the sum for which they already have His Majesty's Warrant. Chicago Addl. The deterioration had been obvious for some time. Once used when policemen sat on watch outside in the street, it has an unusual "hood" designed to protect them from the wind and cold and a drawer underneath where hot coals were placed to provide warmth. The Duke of Wellington, for example, grudgingly lived there for eighteen months between 1828 and 1830 because his own home, Apsley House, was undergoing extensive renovations. Fredrick Robinson, Lord Goderich took a special liking to the house in the late 1820s and spent state funds lavishly remodelling the interior. 10 is in stark contrast to the five prime ministers who have taken office in the past 12 years: David Cameron,. However, a number of challenging areas remain . Edward Heath borrowed French paintings from the National Gallery and was loaned two Renoirs from a private collector. When you spoke to me some time ago upon the subject of the House in Downing Street, I was under the impression, as you were yourself, that the house was the King's & that he might dispose of it in any manner he might think proper. Downing Street History - Audioboom This post covers tours of 10 Downing Street. An Inside Look at 10 Downing Street. [24], The "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown when Lady Overkirk died in 1720. $2 / month. 10 Downing Street is located in Downing Street, City of Westminster, London. Media enquiries - Cabinet Office - GOV.UK tips on how to get the best view of the street and door, Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms. 10 Downing Street Hair Design 1639 - 128th Street, Surrey, BC. For obvious safety reasons, the public is not allowed to walk on Downing Street, let alone go into the residence of the Prime Minister (PM). In 1879 a fire destroyed the upper floors of Number 12; it was renovated but only as a single-storey structure. [134], The room is usually furnished with a table surrounded by 20 reproduction Adam style chairs originally made for the British Embassy in Rio de Janeiro. Couse's elegant, understated doorstark black, framed in cream white with a bold white "10" clearly visiblewas the perfect backdrop to record such events. Lord North, who conducted the war against the American Revolution, lived there happily with his family from 1767 to 1782. The remaining interior space was converted into a courtyard. In May 2010, it was reported that David Cameron, who also had four small children upon taking office, would also take up actual residence above Number 11, and his Chancellor, George Osborne, above Number 10. [56] In 1783 the Duke of Portland moved out because it was once again in need of repair. 4 stars. Due to bomb damage in 1940, the Treasury relocated to the Government Offices Great George Street. 10 Downing Street is the official residence and the office of the British Prime Minister. [158], In addition to outstanding artwork, Number 10 contains many exceptional pieces of furniture either owned by the house or on loan. Regional Offices around the world | BRP [24] (See Plan of the Premises Granted to the Earl and Countess of Lichfield in 1677)[25][26] The likely reason that repair was required is that the house had settled in the swampy ground near the Thames, causing structural damage. [22], In 1671 George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham took possession when he joined the Cabal Ministry. [94] (See The Entrance Door c1930: As seen from inside showing the black and white marble floor and the door providing access to Number 11)[103][104], When William Kent rebuilt the interior between 1732 and 1734, his craftsmen created a stone triple staircase. If you need help figuring out which tube to take, make sure to read our posts covering the London Underground and which tube pass you should buy. Tubs of flowers line the steps from the terrace; around the walls are rose beds with flowering and evergreen shrubs. Scratches on the right arm were caused by their pistols rubbing up against the leather. The arrangement became the standard practice. On 23 September 1735, the London Daily Post announced that: "Yesterday the Right Hon. Jones, see back cover picture credited to Robert Hill @ BBC. Runners and riders: 10 Downing Street's new press conference host Please note, if you have a media query concerning the Prime Minister or media access to Downing Street - please call the press office for No10 Downing Street. Speaking outside Downing Street, he said he had secured an "incredible mandate" in the 2019 general election, winning "the biggest Conservative majority since 1987". The headquarters of His Majesty's Government, it is situated on Downing Street in the City of Westminster in London, England. There is a private residence on the third floor and a private kitchen in the basement. In 1924 when Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald took office, he did not own nor have the means to buy an extensive art collection. Click to get Helen Cook's email: h****k@cantab.net Role: Head of Prime Minister's Points of Light UK @ 10 Downing Street, London, United Kingdom. Timeline of lockdown gatherings as committee investigates whether Social history is her real expertise, with sound understanding of the day-to-day lives of Londoners over the past centuries. [80] In the end, the cost was close to 3,000,000 and took almost three years due in large part to 14 labour strikes. This structure can be seen today as the rear section of Number 10. Boris Johnson resigns: It is painful to leave Downing Street, says PM Number 10 Downing Street | Article about Number 10 Downing Street by Walpole commissioned William Kent to convert them into one building. With an area in No. Get Directions. Although large, they were put up quickly and cheaply on soft soil with shallow foundations. This was a formidable undertaking: the three buildings contained over 200 rooms spread out over five floors. Measuring 37 feet (11m) long by 28 feet (8.5m) wide, it takes its name from the twin Ionic pilasters with straight pediments at one end. In the foreword, Thatcher described her feelings for Number 10: "How much I wish that the public could share with me the feeling of Britain's historic greatness which pervades every nook and cranny of this complicated and meandering old building All Prime Ministers are intensely aware that, as tenants and stewards of No. Read our post which compares these city passes to see if any are a good fit for you. The Modern Cabinet Room: Two photographs taken by Prime Minister. 6 Lord Street Lakes Business Park Botany, NSW 2019, Australia. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. And praying a Warrant for the said sum of 5,580and also praying an Imprest of that sum to enable them to pay the Workmen". SW1A 2AS. Niall Patrick email address & phone number | 10 Downing Street Economic After reconstruction had begun, miners dug down into the foundations and found that the huge wooden beams supporting the house had decayed. Until the late 19th century, Prime Ministers were required to furnish Number 10 at their own expense with furniture, tableware, china, linens, curtains and decorations. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. Who Lives at 10 Downing Street? - WorldAtlas I believe Mr. Charles Townshend occupied it, but I know Mr. Dowdeswell did, & it is remarkable that he is, I believe, the only instance of a Chancellor of the Exchequer upon Record who was not in the Cabinet. Terry also added an ornate gilded ceiling to give the rooms a more stately look. [175], However, the Institute for Government has written that the Cabinet Office (of which the Prime Minister's Office is a component) "is a long way from becoming a fully fledged premier's department", primarily based on the fact that the prime minister "largely lacks the direct policy responsibilities, either in statute or by convention under the Royal Prerogative, possessed by secretaries of state, who have substantial budgets voted to them by Parliament."[176]. 10. Lisbon Larry the cat, whose officialtitle is Chief Mouser, has been living at 10 Downing Street since February 2011. [68], For most of his premiership, Tony Blair lived in the more spacious residence above Number 11 to accommodate his relatively large family (a wife and four children). A black ironwork fence with spiked newel posts runs along the front of the house and up each side of the step to the door. John Logie Baird gave Ramsay MacDonald a demonstration of his invention, the television, in this room. Downing, a notorious spy for Oliver Cromwell and later Charles II, invested in property and acquired considerable wealth. Most lent it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, others to lesser officials or to friends and relatives. For larger gatherings, a horseshoe-shaped table is brought in that will accommodate up to 65 guests. Having united the structures, Kent gutted and rebuilt the interior. When Margaret Thatcher arrived in 1979 she insisted that the artwork had to be British and that it celebrate "British achievers". But, there are a few ways that you can see what the inside looks like, and also potentially glimpse the PM or cabinet members coming or going. 10 Downing Street - YouTube The arrangement became the standard practice. Phone numbers in Montreal, Canada +1 438 - Zadarma.com 4) What guidance is issued to the Downing Street Press Office, please provide documents, etc? [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. Walpole would live there as the incumbent First Lord, but would vacate it for the next one. Role. Costly to maintain, neglected, and run-down, Number 10 was scheduled to be demolished several times, but the property survived and became linked with many statesmen and events in British history. Greater transparency across government is at the heart of our commitment to let you hold politicians and public bodies to account. Although Bothmer complained about "the ruinous Condition of the Premises",[32] he lived there until his death in 1732. The garden is dominated by a half-acre (0.2 ha) open lawn which wraps around Numbers 10 and 11 in an L-shape. [162], That same year, the Leisure Circle published Christopher Jones' book No. We stopped by while listening to our free Rick Steves' audio tour of Westminster on our iPods. 2) What is the email address of the Downing Street Press Office? As head of the Great Treasury Commission of 16671672, Albemarle transformed accounting methods and allowed the Crown greater control over expenses. (See the three state drawing rooms. The No. Larry the Cat celebrates 12 years of service at No. 10 Downing Street : NPR If you are a journalist with a press enquiry or interview request, please email our press office. It was here that Edward Heath kept his grand piano. From 2010 to 2012 and from May to September 2020, there was a Downing Street Permanent Secretary, held by Jeremy Heywood and Simon Case respectively, which ranked above the principal private Secretary to the prime minister. A note from Lord North to the Office of Works, dated September 1774, asks that the work on the front of the house, "which was begun by a Warrant from the Treasury dated 9 August 1766",[54] should be finished. Pt4: The Staircase[111]), In Kent's design for the enlarged Number 10, the Cabinet Room was a simple rectangular space with enormous windows. Plans of 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street (published 1931): This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 14:14. When Margaret Thatcher came to power it was the Blue Room; she had it re-decorated and renamed the Green Room. The room therefore has a unique architectural feature: over the fireplace there is a window instead of the usual chimney breast. [38], The rebuilding took three years. [17], The "House at the Back", the largest of the three houses which were combined to make Number 10, was a mansion built in about 1530 next to Whitehall Palace. T: 011-61-293-552-2700. This became the subject of public controversy, and an Electoral Commission inquiry took place into the financing of the refurbishment. 10, Downing Street: detail of iron balustrading to main staircase, "YouTube Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 14 January 2023 [122], Number 10 has three inter-linked state drawing rooms: the Pillared Drawing Room, the Terracotta Drawing Room and the White Drawing Room. Stanley Baldwin used the Cabinet Room as his office. MS. 38292, f. 11) from Lord Liverpool to Charles Ellis, dated 22 January 1823, is of interest. In 1974, it was suggested that permanent barriers should be erected to prevent the public from walking along the street. To its left is a long case clock by Benson of Whitehaven. 8/29/2013. [127][128] (See The Pillared Drawing Room c1927). To preserve the 'traditional' look of recent times, the newly cleaned yellow bricks were painted black to resemble their well-known appearance. The Data Protection Officer provides independent advice and monitoring of Cabinet Office's use of personal information. 10 Downing Street? Get 5 free searches. You have accepted additional cookies. Downing's portrait hangs in the entrance hall of Number 10. Many rooms and sections of the new building were reconstructed exactly as they were in the old Number 10. Get Niall Patrick's email address (n*****@number10.gov.uk) and phone number at RocketReach. [40] Seldom seen by anyone other than staff, the space is two storeys high with a huge arched window and vaulted ceiling. Albemarle is the first treasury minister to have lived in what became the home of the First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister. The interior wood in the Cabinet Room's double columns was like sawdust. One of the most striking and unusual is the already mentioned Chippendale hooded guard's chair that sits in a corner of the entrance hall. Pt3: The Dining Room", Plate 130: No. There have been barriers erected along both sides of Downing Street since the 1920s. 10, Downing Street | British History Online", Plate 111: No. Regularly removed for refurbishment and replaced with a replica, it is so heavy that it takes eight men to lift it. Upon Inquiry, however, it appeared that the House was attached to the Treasury as a Part of the Office. I want them all PLUS general travel tips. In 1931, Mohandas Gandhi, wearing the traditional homespun dhoti, posed leaving Number 10 after meeting with Ramsay MacDonald to discuss India's independence. We include information such as how to get there, the best times to go, as well as some virtual tours of the famous residence. Prime Minister's Office. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. [29] (See Buildings on the Site of the Cockpit and Number 10 Downing Street c1720)[26][30], The name of the "House at the Back" changed with the occupant, from Lichfield House to Overkirk House in 1690 to Bothmer House in 1720. [121] The only picture in the room is a copy of a portrait of Robert Walpole by Jean-Baptiste van Loo hanging over the fireplace. Some of the original buildings were demolished to allow space to build and expand the Privy Council Office, the Board of Trade, and the Treasury Offices. However, the Prime Minister at the time, Harold Wilson, overturned the idea. Mar 19, 2020 We are leading a national effort to fight #coronavirus in the UK and taking the necessary steps based on the best scientific advice. In 1782 the Board of Works reporting on "the dangerous state of the old part of the House", stated that "no time be lost in taking down said building". Originally estimated at 8,000, the final cost probably exceeded 20,000. Rebuilt, expanded, and renovated many times since, it was originally one of several buildings that made up the "Cockpit Lodgings", so-called because they were attached to an octagonal structure used for cock-fighting. To reach 10 Downing Street by tube, it's best to reach it by either the Westminster or Charing Cross Station. Measuring 42 by 26 feet (12.8 by 7.9m), it is the largest room in Number 10. [83] The "new" Number 10 consisted of about 60% new materials; the remaining 40% was either restored or replicas of originals. [159][note 2] Until the late 19th century, Prime Ministers were required to furnish Number 10 at their own expense with furniture, tableware, china, linens, curtains and decorations. Entering through the Small Dining Room, Blair used this room for his monthly press conferences. [161] Also in attendance were Elizabeth II and representatives of the families of every 20th-century Prime Minister since H. H. Asquith, including Lady Olwen Carey Evans (daughter of David Lloyd George), Lady Leonora Howard (daughter of Stanley Baldwin), and Clarissa Avon (widow of Anthony Eden and niece of Winston Churchill). Everything in between is offices, conference rooms, reception halls, sitting rooms, dining rooms, etc. [163], The Prime Minister's Office, for which the terms Downing Street and Number 10 are metonymous, lies within the 10 Downing Street building and is part of the Cabinet Office. As part of the renovations begun in 1783, it was extended, giving the space its modern appearance. Filter by rating. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Learn More. FREE TOURS BY FOOT IS THE ORIGINAL PAY-WHAT-YOU-LIKE WALKING TOUR. As a precaution, the black oak door that had stood at the entrance of Number 10 since 1735 was replaced. You can change your cookie settings at any time. [35] He proposedand the King agreedthat the Crown give the properties to the Office of First Lord of the Treasury. He then surmounted the third storey of the house at the back with a pediment. [75] The interior would be photographed, measured, disassembled, and restored. Sir Robert Walpole, with his Lady and Family, removed from their House in St James's Square, to his new House, adjoining to the Treasury in St James's Park". "I am heart broken by the result," he said. 10, Downing Street: main doorway and kitchen, "Who has the key to front door of No. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. [40], Walpole did not enter through the now-famous door; that would not be installed until forty years later. There are plenty of other significant London sites within walking distance of Downing Street. The Treasury issued an order "for repairing and fitting it up in the best and most substantial manner" at a cost of 2,522. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Balfour revived the custom that Number 10 is the First Lord and Prime Minister's official residence. The main section had no visible supports. [3] Walpole accepted on the condition that the gift was to the office of First Lord of the Treasury. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a speech on the Windsor Framework. $88. 10, Downing Street, entrance hall and drawing room", "Apollo 11 mission 50 years on: The Cambridge scientist who helped put man on the moon", "Story behind the Terracotta Room at Downing Street", "YouTube Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. Since 2005, Number 10's Direct Communication Unit has not used its staff's real names on signed correspondence to MPs and members of the public; this is for security reasons. The building itself is made up of over 100 hundred rooms only part of which is actually residential. (See Kent's Treasury and No. Waving the Anglo-German Agreement of Friendship, Neville Chamberlain proclaimed "Peace with honour" in 1938 from Number 10 after his meeting with Adolf Hitler in Munich. The front door to Number 10 is most likely the most famous feature of the building. 7 reviews. 10, Downing Street: entrance hall and drawing room, Plate 124: No. Downing Street Says Number 10 switchboard The remainder are on loan from private collectors and from public galleries such as the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Gallery. 8,439 talking about this. Although its hard to get a good look at the street due to security, Downing Street still remains as one of the most visited sites in our capital city. )[64], When Lord Salisbury retired in 1902, his nephew, Arthur James Balfour, became Prime Minister. You are mistaken in supposing that Mr. Vansittart is the only Chancellor of the Exchequer who, without being first Lord of the Treasury, occupied it. [12], Downing employed Christopher Wren to design the houses. It presently houses the UK Cabinet Room in which Cabinet meetings in the UK take place, chaired by the current Prime Minister, Sunak. [105][106] At the bottom of the staircase are group photographs of Prime Ministers with their Cabinet ministers and representatives to imperial conferences. Probably not completed until 1796,[114] this alteration was achieved by removing the east wall and rebuilding it several feet inside the adjoining secretaries' room. Save. An American simply by accident of birth, Margaret moved to London over 16 years ago and hasnt looked back since! Today, the closest visitors can get is standing on the edge of the street to peer through the permanent black metal gates. [146], Above Taylor's vaulted kitchen, between the Pillared Room and the State Dining room, Soane created a Smaller Dining Room (sometimes called the Breakfast Room) that still exists. Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, Windsor Framework unveiled to fix problems of the Northern Ireland Protocol, PM speech on the Windsor Framework: February 2023, Exclusive interviews with former cabinet secretaries, Listen to Number 10 staff talk about their work, Prime Minister's and Cabinet Office ministers' transparency publications, PM statement to the House of Commons: 27 Feb 2023. [67] Harold Wilson, during his second ministry from 1974 to 1976, lived in his home in Lord North Street because Mary Wilson wanted "a proper home". [14] The cul-de-sac had several distinguished residents: George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne from 1692 to 1696 and the Earl of Grantham from 1699 to 1703. When building these houses, Downing was assisted by master architect Sir Christopher Wren, who designed the buildings. [105] (See The Main Stairway c1930 General view showing portraits of the prime ministers[107] and Detail of the Wrought Iron Balustrade[108])[109][110] (See also Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. It was an easy transition: he was already First Lord of the Treasury and he was already living in Number 10. Begun in 1825 and completed in 1826 at a cost of 2,000, the result is a spacious room with oak panelling and reeded mouldings. There have been a few exceptions. Kent's door was modest, belying the spacious elegance beyond. [72], The symbol of British government, Number 10 became a gathering place for protesters. [46], Downing Street declined at the turn of the 19th century, becoming surrounded with run-down buildings, dark alleys, the scene of crime and prostitution. Despite the added measure, on 7 February 1991, the Provisional IRA used a van they parked in Whitehall to launch a mortar shell at Number 10. Soane was the guest of honour when the dining room was first used on 4 April 1826. Churchill called his secretaries the "garden girls" because their offices overlook the garden. Should you want to visit this historic street to get a glimpse of the iconic black door of No. [102], Couse also added a bow front to the small cottageformerly Mr Chicken's houseincorporated into Number 10 in Walpole's time. 10 Downing Street in London, also known colloquially in the United Kingdom as Number 10, is the official residence and executive office of the first lord of the treasury, usually, by convention, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Since 1735, it has been home to the UK's prime ministers. [43], The same document confirmed that Number 10 Downing Street was: "meant to be annexed & united to the Office of his Majesty's Treasury & to be & to remain for the Use & Habitation of the first Commissioner of his Majesty's Treasury for the time being". Black and white engravings and photographs of all the past prime ministers decorate the wall. He may be the most beloved resident of 10 Downing Street in the modern era and his activities are watched closely by the press and the adoring public. Likes. No 10 Downing Street Hair Design Share. In 1997, the building was remodelled to provide extra space for the prime minister's greatly increased staff. [53] Townshend ordered extensive repairs, which were still incomplete eight years later. That the First Lord of the Treasury occupies it if he thinks proper. Regardless of this fact, a portrait of him still hangs in the entrance foyer of Number 10 Downing Street. A committee found that the money spent so far was insufficient. preceding the Great Repair, and 11,000 the Great Repair itself! The State Dining Room contains a mahogany sideboard by Adam. At considerable expense, Buckingham rebuilt the house. Earlier, the government had taken over the other Downing Street houses: the Colonial Office occupied Number 14 in 1798; the Foreign Office was at Number 16 and the houses on either side; the West India Department was in Number 18; and the Tithe Commissioners in Number 20. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street Published 14 January 2023 The Prime Minister spoke to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy today. During the 1990s John Major converted the first floor anteroom into a small gallery of modern art, mostly British. My head has no protection other than this porchway. Charlotte Earland email address & phone number | 10 Downing Street The Letterbox is Useless. As noted above, you cannot walk on Downing Street as a member of the general public. Review. [10], Straightforward as the investment seemed, it proved otherwise.
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