Overall rating. [162], That same year, the Leisure Circle published Christopher Jones' book No. Get Directions. The arrangement became the standard practice. Press office: responsible for relations with the media, Research and information unit: provides factual information to No. In 1800 the wealth he had accumulated was used to found Downing College, Cambridge, as had been his wish should his descendants fail in the male line. The freedom fighters could see their leader had been received in the prime minister's home. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. Hendrick Danckerts' painting "The Palace of Whitehall" (shown at the beginning of this article) usually hangs in the ante-room. No longer "fitted with variety Walle fruit and diverse fruit trees" as it was in the 17th century, there is now a centrally located flower bed around a holly tree surrounded by seats. Prime Minister Tony Blair, for example, hosted a farewell reception in 2007 for his staff on the terrace. Black and white engravings and photographs of all the past prime ministers decorate the wall. Within a few years, dry rot was discovered, especially in the main rooms due to inadequate waterproofing and a broken water pipe. ; 9 Downing Street is the location of the Downing Street Press Briefing Room.It formerly held the offices for previous ministerial departments which have since been dissolved or . Major moved to Admiralty House while repairs were being completed. 10 Downing Street Bhopal. [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. The brass letterbox still bears the legend "First Lord of the Treasury". [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. If he declines it, the Chancellor of the Exchequer occupies it, not as Chancellor of the Exchequer, but as second in the Commission of the Treasury. preceding the Great Repair, and 11,000 the Great Repair itself! Montreal Residential Phone Book by Name, Address, Postal Code or By Reverse Phone Number Lookup, Edmonton A to Z Name Directory, Find a Resident of Edmonton by Last Name. 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". [137][138][139] (See Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. Larry the cat, whose officialtitle is Chief Mouser, has been living at 10 Downing Street since February 2011. Then in 1963 the Cabinet Office (including the Prime Minister's Office) and later the Civil Service (with the Prime minister as Minister for the Civil Service) moved into the renovated Kent Treasury Building. Having united the structures, Kent gutted and rebuilt the interior. The office helps the Prime Minister to establish and deliver the governments overall strategy and policy priorities, and to communicate the governments policies to Parliament, the public and international audiences. This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. Emails can be sent to the Prime Ministers Office using the link above. Due to bomb damage in 1940, the Treasury relocated to the Government Offices Great George Street. Since July 2016 the Prime Minister has been Rt Hon Theresa May MP. The previous year, Knevett had moved into a house next door, approximately where Number 10 is today. [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. Usually furnished with a mahogany table seating only eight, Prime Ministers have often used this room when dining with family or when entertaining special guests on more personal state occasions. "Under (Prime Minister) Blair . The table is surrounded by carved, solid mahogany chairs that also date from the Gladstone era. [13], The upper end of the Downing Street cul-de-sac closed off the access to St James's Park, making the street quiet and private. [132], In the renovation of the 1980s Quinlan Terry introduced large Doric order columns to this room in the door surrounds and designed a very large Palladian overmantel for the fireplace with small double Doric columns on each side with the royal arms above. Kent's staircase is the first architectural feature visitors see as they enter Number 10. In addition to the large carpet previously described, the Pillared State Drawing Room also contains a marble-topped table by Kent. A committee found that the money spent so far was insufficient. The post of First Lord of the Treasury has, for much of the 18th and 19th centuries and invariably since 1905, been held by the prime minister. [83] The "new" Number 10 consisted of about 60% new materials; the remaining 40% was either restored or replicas of originals. Albemarle is the first treasury minister to have lived in what became the home of the First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister. During Thatcher's premiership, terrorist threats led to the implementation of a second level of security. 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. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. We covered all issues in some detail, including the most difficult ones. MS. 38292, f. 11) from Lord Liverpool to Charles Ellis, dated 22 January 1823, is of interest. [171], In her report about parties on Government premises during the COVID pandemic, Sue Gray concluded that the size of the Downing Street operation had increased without the structures to support them, and "too much responsibility and expectation is placed on the senior official whose principal function is support of the Prime Minister". [40] Seldom seen by anyone other than staff, the space is two storeys high with a huge arched window and vaulted ceiling. The staircase, however, was rebuilt and simplified. 10 Downing Street, The Story of a House. [11] When the Hampden lease expired, Downing received permission to build on land further west to take advantage of more recent property developments. 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. 10, Downing Street: detail of iron balustrading to main staircase, "YouTube Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Lord North, who conducted the war against the American Revolution, lived there happily with his family from 1767 to 1782. A similar number are employed in the equivalent operation in the Cabinet . Painted off-white with large floor to ceiling windows along one of the long walls, the room is light and airy. [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the . Originally three houses, Number 10 was offered to Robert Walpole by King George II in 1732. In the committee's report there was some discussion of tearing down the building and constructing an entirely new residence but because the prime minister's home had become an icon of British architecture like Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, the committee recommended that Number 10 (and Numbers 11 and 12) should be rebuilt using as much of the original materials as possible. Couse's elegant, understated doorstark black, framed in cream white with a bold white "10" clearly visiblewas the perfect backdrop to record such events. the British government; refers to location of Prime Minister's residence [Br. Three brass chandeliers hang from the high ceiling. Winston Churchill is represented in two photographs. The role of Downing Street Permanent Secretary was revived, with Samantha Jones holding the position on an interim basis.[173]. 5 stars. Everything in between is offices, conference rooms, reception halls, sitting rooms, dining rooms, etc. Soane was the guest of honour when the dining room was first used on 4 April 1826. [33], When Count Bothmer died, ownership of the "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown. During the 1990s John Major converted the first floor anteroom into a small gallery of modern art, mostly British. [100], Beyond the door, Couse installed black and white marble tiles in the entrance hall that are still in use. Role. Clickhere to get exact directions from your point of departure. 10 is now on the hunt for an experienced broadcaster to host the daily press conference and be the government's voice . 10, Downing Street, Cabinet Room", "The three state drawing rooms as reconstructed by Quinlan Terry 19881990", "Prime Minister Tony Blair in front of a painting of his famous predecessor, William Pitt the Younger (by artist George Romney), at 10 Downing Street", "Plate 126: No. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. Speaking outside Downing Street, he said he had secured an "incredible mandate" in the 2019 general election, winning "the biggest Conservative majority since 1987". Originally, the door was made of Georgian black oak; it is today made of blast-proof steel and takes a reported eight men to lift it. Los Angeles They said sure no problem and booked my appointment. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. [69], Despite these exceptions, Number 10 has been known as the prime minister's official home for over one hundred years. Letters patent issued in April 1736 state that: "a piece of garden ground situated in his Majesty's park of St James's, & belonging & adjoining to the house now inhabited by the Right Honourable the Chancellor of His Majesty's Exchequer, hath been lately made & fitted up at the Charge of the Crown". The fence rises above the step into a double-swirled archway, supporting an iron gas lamp surmounted by a crown. 10 Downing Street is the official residence and the office of the British Prime Minister. Executed in the Kentian style, the small Ionic pilasters in the over-mantel are miniature duplicates of the large Ionic pillars in the room. [102], Couse also added a bow front to the small cottageformerly Mr Chicken's houseincorporated into Number 10 in Walpole's time. You have rejected additional cookies. 10 is in stark contrast to the five prime ministers who have taken office in the past 12 years: David Cameron,. Edward Heath borrowed French paintings from the National Gallery and was loaned two Renoirs from a private collector. However, it is sometimes used for other purposes that require a large open space. It was an easy transition: he was already First Lord of the Treasury and he was already living in Number 10. Although Bothmer complained about "the ruinous Condition of the Premises",[32] he lived there until his death in 1732. John Logie Baird gave Ramsay MacDonald a demonstration of his invention, the television, in this room. 10. To reach 10 Downing Street by tube, it's best to reach it by either the Westminster or Charing Cross Station. However, some commentators have suggested that Blair's reforms have created something similar to a Prime Minister's Department. (4) To see any comings and goings of the PM and other government members, Thursday morning is the best time, as this is when the PM and Cabinet meeting. Of the 31 First Lords from 1735 to 1902, only 16 (including Walpole) lived in Number 10. 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. ", "QI: Quite interesting facts about 10 Downing Street", Plate 126: No. [126], Sparsely furnished with a few chairs and sofas around the walls, the Pillared Room is usually used to receive guests before they go into the State Dining Room. Lord Frost, Chief Negotiator, said: "We have just completed our eighth round of negotiations with the EU. [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). My head has no protection other than this porchway. Regardless of this fact, a portrait of him still hangs in the entrance foyer of Number 10 Downing Street. The zero of the number "10" is painted in a very eccentric style, in a 37 angle anticlockwise. the locked door, symbolically and physically dividing No. The Press Secretary works within the Prime Minister's Office and the Downing Street Press Office.. History. International agreements have been signed in this room. In 1766, for example, Charles Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer, pointed out that the house was in a dilapidated condition. Princess Elizabeth, eldest daughter of King James I, lived there from 1604 until 1613 when she married Frederick V, Elector Palatine and moved to Heidelberg. 10 Downing Street, known in the UK as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury. Originally estimated at 8,000, the final cost probably exceeded 20,000. 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. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a speech on the Windsor Framework. This project was completed in 1737 and included corridors connecting the Treasury building with Ten Downing Street allowing Walpole, as Chancellor of the Exchequer as well as First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister, direct and convenient access to the Treasury offices. The room therefore has a unique architectural feature: over the fireplace there is a window instead of the usual chimney breast. New York City She said this needed to be addressed as a priority, and Boris Johnson agreed to the Office of the Prime Minister becoming a Government department. "The whole project has been a frightful waste of money because it just has not been done properly. More extensive changes occur when a new Prime Minister takes office and redecorates. 604.536.3353 No. "[86] Erith described the numbers on the front, intended to be based on historical models, as 'a mess' and 'completely wrong' to a fellow historian. The town house, from which the modern building gets its name, was one of several built by George Downing between 1682 and 1684. Winston Churchill, for example, had a great affection for Number 10, but, during World War II, he grudgingly slept in the hastily converted flat on the ground floor of what was then the New Public Office building (NPO) at nearby Storey's Gate. The room links through to the Terracotta Room next door. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. 294 Following. Accessed through the first floor, its vaulted, arched ceiling rises up through the next so that it actually occupies two floors. [71] During World War II, Churchill was photographed many times emerging confidently from Number 10 holding up two fingers in the sign for "Victory". Tubs of flowers line the steps from the terrace; around the walls are rose beds with flowering and evergreen shrubs. 1-8 Downing Street were the houses between Number 9 and Whitehall that were taken over by the government and demolished in 1824 to allow the construction of the Privy Council Office, Board of Trade and Treasury offices. In one from 28 April 2021, seven months before press reports about parties first appeared, an unnamed No 10 official noted that another official was "worried about leaks of PM having a piss up and . With an area in No. [82], The new foundation was made of steel-reinforced concrete with pilings sunk 6 to 18 feet (1.8 to 5.5m). When Margaret Thatcher arrived in 1979 she insisted that the artwork had to be British and that it celebrate "British achievers". Various political advisers have in the past acted in a press . D B City mall, 3rd floor Maharana Pratap Nagar, Bhopal 462004 India +91 81096 43000 + Add website. Free. Here he is, on May 24, 2019, being escorted into the residence just minutes before Theresa May stood in front of the famous black door and announced her resignation. Large, shiny, and black and bearing 10 in large brass numbers, the door is most likely one of the most photographed in the world! [115] The resulting small space, framed by the pillars, serves as an anteroom to the larger area. Washington DC. So much has this extraordinary edifice cost the country For one moiety of the sum a much better dwelling might have been purchased! 10, Downing Street | British History Online", Plate 111: No. Get 5 free searches. Lisbon From blossom honey to ethical coffee, a number of successful Welsh businesses came to showcase their fantastic produce. The Ministry of Works has insisted on economy after economy. [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. [105][106] At the bottom of the staircase are group photographs of Prime Ministers with their Cabinet ministers and representatives to imperial conferences. The huge . Since 1990 when the Terry reconstruction was completed, repairing, redecorating, remodelling, and updating the house has been ongoing as needed. [133], The White State Drawing room was, until the 1940s, used by Prime Ministers and their partners for their private use. The remaining interior space was converted into a courtyard. Lastly, Google made this crystal-clear 360-degree virtual tour of some of the rooms in 10 Downing Street. Number 10 Downing Street is one of the most famous addresses in the world. It also houses the Prime Minister's Executive Office, which deals with logistics and diplomacy concerning the government of the United Kingdom. Churchill called his secretaries the "garden girls" because their offices overlook the garden. 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. 10 Downing Street, they have in their charge one of the most precious jewels in the nation's heritage". Culture: Bent, 286] Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) February 15, 2023 Larry's enduring presence at No. In 1879 a fire destroyed the upper floors of Number 12; it was renovated but only as a single-storey structure. Filter by rating. 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". The Press Secretary will address the lobby correspondents at 10 Downing Street to give journalists information on events attended by the Prime Minister, as well as current affairs in Downing Street and in Parliament. In 1997, the building was remodelled to provide extra space for the prime minister's greatly increased staff. To this end, he employed John Soane, the distinguished architect who had designed the Bank of England and many other famous buildings, to build a State Dining Room for Number 10. [88] Further extensive repairs and remodelling, commissioned by Margaret Thatcher, were completed in the 1980s under the direction of Erith's associate, Quinlan Terry. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Stanley Baldwin used the Cabinet Room as his office. Its registered legal title is held in the name of the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities (the secretary of state is a corporation sole).[5]. His secretary, George Downing, who built Downing Street, is thought to have created these changes. Contact: Prime Minister's Office enquiries. Steel was hidden inside the columns in the Pillared Drawing Room to support the floor above. 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. SW1A 2AS. [19][20], From that time, the "House at the Back" was usually occupied by members of the royal family or the government. "[57] (See Plan of the Design for Number 10 c1781. [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. 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. To celebrate, Thatcher hosted a grand dinner in the State Dining Room for her living predecessors: Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath and James Callaghan. [53] Townshend ordered extensive repairs, which were still incomplete eight years later. I had called them asking if they could add a toner to my hair over the phone . 10 Downing, check out our guided Westminster Tourand ourLondon in a Day Tour, which both stop at Downing Street. That if he declined it, it would go to the next in the Commission, or it might possibly be disposed of by the Board to any Member or Officer of the Treasury; but could not, & never has been detached from it. The First Lord's new, albeit temporary, home had sixty rooms, with hardwood and marble floors, crown moulding, elegant pillars and marble mantelpieces; those on the west side with views of St James's Park. Since the door had no keyhole, the inside officer depended upon the lone outside officer. After reconstruction had begun, miners dug down into the foundations and found that the huge wooden beams supporting the house had decayed. The Crown authorised extensive rebuilding which included adding a storey, thus giving it three main floors, an attic and basement. 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. 10 from the Cabinet Office, was passed through with such frequency that its meaning was lost. Prague Today, the closest visitors can get is standing on the edge of the street to peer through the permanent black metal gates. Berlin [136] Celebrity chefs such as Nigella Lawson have cooked for Prime Ministers' guests using the small kitchen next door. 10 Downing Street in London Number 10 Downing Street is the residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Boston [10], Straightforward as the investment seemed, it proved otherwise. Number 10 Downing Street was originally three properties: a mansion overlooking St James's Park called "the House at the Back", a town house behind it and a cottage. Although he had accepted it on behalf of future First Lords of the Treasury, it would be 21 years before any of his successors chose to live there; the five who followed Walpole preferred their own homes. Save. Tweets & replies. Also,Wednesdays between 11 and 11:30 a.m. are good since the PM leaves at this time to head to Parliament. The highest ranking civil servant position is the principal private secretary to the prime minister, currently[update] Elizabeth Perelman. [34], Walpole did not accept the gift for himself. [47][48][49][50][51][note 1], Another reason for its unpopularity was that Number 10 was a hazardous place in which to live. [14], Downing did not live in Downing Street. When building these houses, Downing was assisted by master architect Sir Christopher Wren, who designed the buildings. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Bolitho, p. 116. Even though Count von Bothmer was not British, he was a subject of George I and George II and the first politician and head of a government who resided in 10 Downing Street. (See the State Dining room with the Silver Trust Silver in use for a luncheon[135]) Above the fireplace, overlooking the room, is a massive portrait by John Shackleton of George II, the king who originally gave the building to the First Lord of the Treasury in 1732. [136][150] (See North elevation of Number 10 with steps leading to the garden[151])[152] The terrace and garden have provided a casual setting for many gatherings of First Lords with foreign dignitaries, Cabinet ministers, guests, and staff. Blick, Andrew and Jones, George (2010). Jones, see back cover picture credited to Robert Hill @ BBC. To preserve the 'traditional' look of recent times, the newly cleaned yellow bricks were painted black to resemble their well-known appearance. At considerable expense, Buckingham rebuilt the house. Regularly removed for refurbishment and replaced with a replica, it is so heavy that it takes eight men to lift it. 1 star. Painted in white, between the top and middle sets of panels, is the number "10".