1639 128th Street Surrey, BC . This arrangement remained in effect until the middle of the 19th century and until then all Prime Ministers who were also Chancellor took advantage of it. Also, take a look at the virtual tour of 10 Downing Street on the UK Government's website. You may want to take a video from the bus since a still shot might be hard to capture while the bus is in motion. New Orleans London. Audio histories about Number 10 Downing Street, the office of the official residence of the UK Prime Minister Lord Frost, Chief Negotiator, said: "We have just completed our eighth round of negotiations with the EU. The IRA mortar attack in February 1991 led to extensive work being done to repair the damage (mostly to the garden and exterior walls) and to improve security. 2371. 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. The Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; also known as '10 Downing Street' or 'No 10' . [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. [69], Despite these exceptions, Number 10 has been known as the prime minister's official home for over one hundred years. Although large, they were put up quickly and cheaply on soft soil with shallow foundations. [94] (See The Entrance Door c1930: As seen from the outside)[95][96] The door cannot be opened from the outside; there is always someone inside to unlock the door. A new foundation with deep pilings would be laid and the original buildings reassembled on top of it, allowing for much needed expansion and modernisation. Any original materials that were beyond repair such as the pair of double columns in the Cabinet Room would be replicated in detail. 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. 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. Since July 2016 the Prime Minister has been Rt Hon Theresa May MP. From 1834 to 1877, it was either vacant or used only for offices and meetings. The Letterbox is Useless. Most are on loan. [90], To accommodate their large families, both Tony Blair and David Cameron chose to live in the private residence above Number 11 rather than the smaller one above 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. Lister served as acting chief of staff, but was replaced by Dan Rosenfield, who officially assumed the role in January 2021. 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. Entering through the Small Dining Room, Blair used this room for his monthly press conferences. [88] Further extensive repairs and remodelling, commissioned by Margaret Thatcher, were completed in the 1980s under the direction of Erith's associate, Quinlan Terry. (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. [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). When Margaret Thatcher came to power it was the Blue Room; she had it re-decorated and renamed the Green Room. Get 5 free searches. [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. As head of the Great Treasury Commission of 16671672, Albemarle transformed accounting methods and allowed the Crown greater control over expenses. You have rejected additional cookies. Their possession of the house, albeit temporary, was a perquisite they could bestow as a political reward. The staircase, however, was rebuilt and simplified. 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". Addl. The staircase had sunk several inches; some steps were buckled and the balustrade was out of alignment. [21], George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, the general responsible for the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, lived there from 1660 until his death in 1671. More extensive changes occur when a new Prime Minister takes office and redecorates. 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. Should you want to visit this historic street to get a glimpse of the iconic black door of No. The building itself, however, did not escape the London Blitz entirely unscathed; in February 1944 a bomb fell on nearby Horse Guards Parade and some of the drawing-room windows were destroyed. Many rooms and sections of the new building were reconstructed exactly as they were in the old Number 10. "[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. Originally estimated at 8,000, the final cost probably exceeded 20,000. 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. These included: the garden floor, the door and entrance foyer, the stairway, the hallway to the Cabinet Room, the Cabinet Room, the garden and terrace, the Small and Large State Rooms and the three reception rooms. [a] The reorganisation brought about the fusion of the old Prime Minister's Office and other Cabinet Office teams, with a number of units (including the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit) now reporting directly into the Prime Minister's Office. Prime Minister Tony Blair, for example, hosted a farewell reception in 2007 for his staff on the terrace. 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. 9. 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. [14], Downing did not live in Downing Street. With or without the prime minister present, visitors had their picture taken. Nashville San Francisco Nassau, who Anglicised his name to "Overkirk", lived there until his death in 1708. [23], After Buckingham retired in 1676, Lady Charlotte Fitzroy, Charles II's daughter, moved in when she married Edward Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield. Accessed through the first floor, its vaulted, arched ceiling rises up through the next so that it actually occupies two floors. You have rejected additional cookies. BOOK ONLINE Reserve a Spot on a Guided Walking Tour Now! The Ministry of Works has insisted on economy after economy. He insisted that the Treasury should bear the cost of furnishings at least in the public areas. This arrangement began to change in 1877 when Benjamin Disraeli took up residency. [34], Walpole did not accept the gift for himself. The doorbell is inscribed with "PUSH" although is rarely used in practice. [27] Like Downing Street, it rested on a shallow foundation, a design error that caused problems until 1960 when the modern Number 10 was rebuilt on deep pilings. 10, Downing Street: entrance hall and drawing room, Plate 124: No. 10, Downing Street: main doorway and kitchen, "Who has the key to front door of No. 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. The upper floors were modernised and the third floor extended over Numbers 11 and 12 to allow more living space. [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 Bhopal. He originally intended that the street should be full of fine townhouses designed specifically for persons of good quality to inhabit in. 10 Downing Street, they have in their charge one of the most precious jewels in the nation's heritage". To allow Walpole quicker access to Parliament, Kent closed the north side entrance from St James's Park, and made the door in Downing Street the main entrance. (See the three state drawing rooms. 604.536.3353 No. The Treasury agreed and a complex accounting procedure was developed whereby the outgoing Prime Minister was required to pay for "wear and tear" on furnishings that had been purchased by the Treasury. There are plenty of other significant London sites within walking distance of Downing Street. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. Despite its size and convenient location near to Parliament, few early prime ministers lived at 10 Downing Street. Claimed. Of the 31 First Lords from 1735 to 1902, only 16 (including Walpole) lived in Number 10. At the rear is an interior courtyard and a terrace overlooking a .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}12 acre (0.2ha) garden. 's office, based at 10 Downing Street. 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. Kent's door was modest, belying the spacious elegance beyond. 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. Here are some tips on how to get a good glimpse of the famous black door (and perhaps famous people as well). [42], Shortly after moving in, Walpole ordered that a portion of the land outside his study be converted into a terrace and garden. 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. Churchill called his secretaries the "garden girls" because their offices overlook the garden. [33], When Count Bothmer died, ownership of the "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown. 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. 10 Downing, check out our guided Westminster Tourand ourLondon in a Day Tour, which both stop at Downing Street. 9 Downing Street to be converted for the new set-up, No. Jones, p. 52. [12], Downing employed Christopher Wren to design the houses. Number 10 switchboard. 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". The work of a slave of the holy place, Maqsud of Kashan in the year 926" (the Islamic year corresponding to 1520). [61][62] (See Numbers 10, 11, and 12 Downing Street First Floor Plan[63] and Ground Floor Plan. List of current civil service and senior special adviser positions serving Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: The office was reorganised in 2001 into three directorates: Changes were intended to strengthen the PM's office. Los Angeles The majority of the UK's Prime Ministers, dating back to the very first, (Robert Walpole in 1720) have called Number 10 home. In addition to the large carpet previously described, the Pillared State Drawing Room also contains a marble-topped table by Kent. At considerable expense, Buckingham rebuilt the house. Most lent it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, others to lesser officials or to friends and relatives. [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. Steel was hidden inside the columns in the Pillared Drawing Room to support the floor above. [153] It was also the location of the first press conference announcing the Coalition Government between David Cameron's Conservatives and Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats. This structure can be seen today as the rear section of Number 10. Stanley Baldwin used the Cabinet Room as his office. Pt3: The Dining Room", Plate 130: No. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister in October 2022. Kent joined the larger houses by building a two-storey structure between them, consisting of one long room on the ground floor and several above. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. [37] This small house and the mansion at the back were then incorporated into Number 10. Media. [100], Beyond the door, Couse installed black and white marble tiles in the entrance hall that are still in use. 10, Downing Street, circa 1754. Also, take a look at thevirtual tour of 10 Downing Streeton the UK Government's website. 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. Well send you a link to a feedback form. London "Johnson promises No 10 shake-up after Gray finds failures", "No10 team bolstered to deliver the people's priorities", "No 10 admits using false names on letters to the public", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=10_Downing_Street&oldid=1142811850, Downing Street Permanent Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, Downing Street Director of Legislative Affairs. 100 PBX and CRM users. Originally three houses, Number 10 was offered to Robert Walpole by King George II in 1732. [53] Townshend ordered extensive repairs, which were still incomplete eight years later. His secretary, George Downing, who built Downing Street, is thought to have created these changes. Edward Heath borrowed French paintings from the National Gallery and was loaned two Renoirs from a private collector. 10 Downing Street? The building hosts offices, conference, dining, and sitting rooms. To build it, Soane removed the chimney from the kitchen to put a door in the room. 10 Downing Street is located in Downing Street, City of Westminster, London. In 2010, the Camerons completely modernised the 50-year-old private kitchen in Number 11. 10 Downing Street, The Story of a House. 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. Social history is her real expertise, with sound understanding of the day-to-day lives of Londoners over the past centuries. This system was used until November 1897 when the Treasury assumed responsibility for purchasing and maintaining almost all of the furnishings in both the public and private areas except decorating the walls with art work. [15][16] In 1675 he retired to Cambridge, where he died in 1684, a few months after building was completed. John Major announced his 1997 resignation as leader of the Conservative Party in the garden. At this time we are not able to respond to emails that do not fall into this category or are of a general nature.Please consider carefully whether your email is necessary and note that emails are not monitored throughout the day or at weekends. 6 Lord Street Lakes Business Park Botany, NSW 2019, Australia. 10 Political Office (party political liaison and constituency affairs). The small, six-panelled door, originally made of black oak, is surrounded by cream-coloured casing and adorned with a semicircular fanlight window. 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". 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. The result was a spacious mansion, lying parallel to Whitehall Palace with a view of St James Park from its garden. Henry Pelham, for example, had his own spacious home and had no need for Number 10. He insisted that the Treasury should bear the cost of furnishings at least in the public areas. As part of the renovations begun in 1783, it was extended, giving the space its modern appearance. He had the Government Art Collection loan pieces. You have accepted additional cookies. Scratches on the right arm were caused by their pistols rubbing up against the leather. Over the years, the addresses changed several times. Painted in white, between the top and middle sets of panels, is the number "10". [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]. Situated in Downing Street in the City of Westminster, London, Number 10 is over 300 years old and contains approximately 100 rooms. Official page for the office of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, based at 10 Downing Street. [19][20], From that time, the "House at the Back" was usually occupied by members of the royal family or the government. Bolitho, p. 116. There have been barriers erected along both sides of Downing Street since the 1920s. Philadelphia the British government; refers to location of Prime Minister's residence [Br. Number 10 Downing Street is one of the most famous addresses in the world. [87], Erith's concerns proved justified. Regardless of this fact, a portrait of him still hangs in the entrance foyer of Number 10 Downing Street. 2 stars. [160], In 1985, Number 10 was 250 years old. 10 from the Cabinet Office, was passed through with such frequency that its meaning was lost. Extensive reconstruction again had to be undertaken in the late 1960s to resolve these problems. Tubs of flowers line the steps from the terrace; around the walls are rose beds with flowering and evergreen shrubs. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. To reach 10 Downing Street by tube, it's best to reach it by either the Westminster or Charing Cross Station. She was the grandmother of King George I, the Elector of Hanover, who became King of Great Britain in 1714, and was the great-grandmother of King George II, who presented the house to Walpole in 1732. 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. 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. We stopped by while listening to our free Rick Steves' audio tour of Westminster on our iPods. Only a few are permanent features. George II took this opportunity to offer it to Robert Walpole, often called the first prime minister, as a gift for his services to the nation: stabilising its finances, keeping it at peace and securing the Hanoverian succession. Filter by rating. In 1985, Margaret Thatcher said Number 10 had become "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage". Start your review of No 10 Downing Street. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. [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. 10, Downing Street | British History Online", Plate 111: No. The black appearance was the product of two centuries of pollution. You have accepted additional cookies. Walpole would live there as the incumbent First Lord, but would vacate it for the next one. Get Niall Patrick's email address (n*****@number10.gov.uk) and phone number at RocketReach. If you are a journalist with a press enquiry or interview request, please email our press office. SW1A 2AS. This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. The table is surrounded by carved, solid mahogany chairs that also date from the Gladstone era. International agreements have been signed in this room. In 1974, it was suggested that permanent barriers should be erected to prevent the public from walking along the street. The original door was put on display in the Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms. . The terrace, extending across the back, provides a full view of St James's Park. The room therefore has a unique architectural feature: over the fireplace there is a window instead of the usual chimney breast. Earls, Lords, and Countesses quickly moved into the prime real estate built here although it seems unlikely that Sir Downing himself ever actually resided on the street that holds his name. It is often used as the backdrop for television interviews and is in regular use as a meeting room for Downing Street staff. "The whole project has been a frightful waste of money because it just has not been done properly. From 1997 to 2019 and since 2020, the most senior special adviser post is the Downing Street chief of staff but this job title was out of use from July 2019 to November 2020 when the role was split into two positions with Dominic Cummings[165][166][167] who served as the chief adviser to the prime minister, and Edward Lister[168][169] who served as the chief strategic adviser to the prime minister. [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. [74], By the middle of the 20th century, Number 10 was falling apart again. Terry also added an ornate gilded ceiling to give the rooms a more stately look. [72], The symbol of British government, Number 10 became a gathering place for protesters. Early security consisted of two police officers: one stood guard outside the door; the other was stationed inside to open it. A leaked message from Matt Hancock's aide-turned-lover Gina Coladangelo has sparked questions over whether there was a Department of Health celebration at the height of Covid lockdown.. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Two years later in 1690, William III and Mary II gave the "House at the Back" to Hendrik van Nassau-Ouwerkerk, a Dutch general who had assisted in securing the Crown for the Prince of Orange. It became unsafe and frequently required repairs. [84][85], Although the reconstruction was generally considered an architectural triumph, Erith was disappointed. He had the Government Art Collection loan pieces.