Measuring 42 by 26 feet (12.8 by 7.9m), it is the largest room in Number 10. [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". Public Enquiries: Online Contact Form. Tweets & replies. [129][104][130] After the Apollo 11 lunar landing in July 1969, Harold Wilson hosted a reception in the room for astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, in addition to Cambridge scientist Francis Thomas Bacon, inventor of the alkaline fuel cell used to generate power for space capsules. An American simply by accident of birth, Margaret moved to London over 16 years ago and hasnt looked back since! By the 1800s the houses had nearly all been taken over by the government. Prime ministers come and go, but one resident of 10 Downing Street has no plans to leave any time soon. Lisbon After reconstruction had begun, miners dug down into the foundations and found that the huge wooden beams supporting the house had decayed. SW1A 2AS. [160], In 1985, Number 10 was 250 years old. Behind its black door have been taken the most important decisions affecting Britain for the last 275 years. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street - GOV.UK Dear Prime Minister's Office, I am making a request about the Downing Street Press Office, please answer/supply the following: 1) Who runs the Downing Street Press Office? [71] During World War II, Churchill was photographed many times emerging confidently from Number 10 holding up two fingers in the sign for "Victory". 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. [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. The highest ranking civil servant position is the principal private secretary to the prime minister, currently[update] Elizabeth Perelman. [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. 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. To find more go to "More details" about the price bundles. Chicago The State Dining Room contains a mahogany sideboard by Adam. This was the pattern until the beginning of the 20th century. In 1924 when Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald took office, he did not own nor have the means to buy an extensive art collection. The houses deteriorated from neglect, became unsafe, and one by one were demolished. A few peers lived in Number 10 out of necessity. London. Emails can be sent to the Prime Ministers Office using the link above. [35] He proposedand the King agreedthat the Crown give the properties to the Office of First Lord of the Treasury. Suffragettes posed in front of the door when they petitioned H. H. Asquith for women's rights in 1913, a picture that became famous and was circulated around the world. [117][118][119][120], Although Kent intended the First Lord to use this space as his study, it has rarely served that purpose; it has almost always been the Cabinet Room. Washington DC. 10, Downing Street: Official Dining Room, Plate 131: No. No 10 and cabinet media departments to merge into 'super press office 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. Greater transparency across government is at the heart of our commitment to let you hold politicians and public bodies to account. This arrangement began to change in 1877 when Benjamin Disraeli took up residency. preceding the Great Repair, and 11,000 the Great Repair itself! This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. [101] Number 10 Downing Street has a lift. 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. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. In 1931, Mohandas Gandhi, wearing the traditional homespun dhoti, posed leaving Number 10 after meeting with Ramsay MacDonald to discuss India's independence. The zero of the number "10" is painted in a very eccentric style, in a 37 angle anticlockwise. [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. You can also reach it by boat with City Cruises from the Westminster City Pier which is very nearby. MS. 38292, f. 11) from Lord Liverpool to Charles Ellis, dated 22 January 1823, is of interest. )[58][59], A few prime ministers however did enjoy living in Number 10. [26], However, there have been numerous times when prime ministers have unofficially lived elsewhere out of necessity or preference. You have rejected additional cookies. Claimed. Nashville This post covers tours of 10 Downing Street. [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. By the turn of the 20th century, photography and the penny press had linked Number 10 in the public mind with the premiership. View Company Not the person you were looking for? It is now painted terracotta. Get Niall Patrick's email address (n*****@number10.gov.uk) and phone number at RocketReach. 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. At considerable expense, Buckingham rebuilt the house. UK Prime Minister - Facebook There have been a few exceptions. 10 Downing Street, The Story of a House. PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 14 January 2023 Prime Minister Tony Blair, for example, hosted a farewell reception in 2007 for his staff on the terrace. [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. [100], Beyond the door, Couse installed black and white marble tiles in the entrance hall that are still in use. 10, Downing Street: Official Dining Room, Plate 129: No. No.10 Press Office (@Number10press) / Twitter There is a private residence on the third floor and a private kitchen in the basement. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Save. 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. The town house, from which the modern building gets its name, was one of several built by George Downing between 1682 and 1684. The White State Drawing Room contains examples of Adam furniture. 10, Downing Street: breakfast room and smaller drawing room, Plate 117: No. Of the 31 First Lords from 1735 to 1902, only 16 (including Walpole) lived in Number 10. 10 Downing Street | LinkedIn See letter, dated, "Downing Street, 30 June 1742", from. 7 reviews. Miami [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. [46], One reason many First Lords chose not to live in Number 10 was that most owned London town houses superior in size and quality. [157] These redecorations may reflect both individual taste as well as make a political statement. To reach 10 Downing Street by tube, it's best to reach it by either the Westminster or Charing Cross Station. [61][62] (See Numbers 10, 11, and 12 Downing Street First Floor Plan[63] and Ground Floor Plan. Regional Offices around the world | BRP Audio histories about Number 10 Downing Street, the office of the official residence of the UK Prime Minister 10, Downing Street: main doorway and kitchen, "Who has the key to front door of No. [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]. Carved into the plasterwork above the door leading to the Pillared Room is a tribute to Margaret Thatcher: a straw-carrying 'thatcher'. Extensive reconstruction again had to be undertaken in the late 1960s to resolve these problems. Overall rating. The leaders reflected on the current state of Russia's. His secretary, George Downing, who built Downing Street, is thought to have created these changes. 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. The Hampden family had a lease on the land that they refused to relinquish. Also,Wednesdays between 11 and 11:30 a.m. are good since the PM leaves at this time to head to Parliament. [10], Straightforward as the investment seemed, it proved otherwise. 10 Political Office (party political liaison and constituency affairs). Albemarle is the first treasury minister to have lived in what became the home of the First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister. John Logie Baird gave Ramsay MacDonald a demonstration of his invention, the television, in this room. Plans of 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street (published 1931): This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 14:14. [41] The name changes according to the colour it is painted. (1) To get a quick photo-op of 10 Downing Street, you can take the #11 bus, and sit on the top deck of the doubledecker. 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". Walpole commissioned William Kent to join the three houses and it is this larger house that is known as Number 10 Downing Street. British History Online, Letter (B.M. 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. [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". With an area in No. Originally estimated at 8,000, the final cost probably exceeded 20,000. 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. A similar number are employed in the equivalent operation in the Cabinet . 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. Downing Street apologised to Buckingham Palace after details emerged of boozy drinks parties, including one for outgoing communications director James Slack. 10 Downing Street, London number10.gov.uk Joined March 2008. Kent's staircase is the first architectural feature visitors see as they enter Number 10. Media enquiries - Cabinet Office - GOV.UK Premiership: The Development, Nature and Power of the Office of the British Prime Minister, Imprint Academic. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. When building these houses, Downing was assisted by master architect Sir Christopher Wren, who designed the buildings. Downing Street Says Number 10 switchboard His architect's letter to the Treasury stated: "we have caused the House in Downing Street belonging to the Treasury to be surveyed, & find the Walls of the old part of the said House next the street to be much decayed, the Floors & Chimneys much sunk from the level". [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). 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. In the reconstruction during the late 1980s, Quinlan Terry used Corinthian columns and added ornate Baroque-style central ceiling mouldings and corner mouldings of the four national flowers of the United Kingdom: rose (England), thistle (Scotland), daffodil (Wales) and shamrock (Northern Ireland). 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. He complained openly during and after the project that the government had altered his design to save money. Having united the structures, Kent gutted and rebuilt the interior. 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. 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. [38], The rebuilding took three years. 6 Lord Street Lakes Business Park Botany, NSW 2019, Australia. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. [47][48][49][50][51][note 1], Another reason for its unpopularity was that Number 10 was a hazardous place in which to live. 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. You have rejected additional cookies. Prague That has changed, and now security is very tight, as one would expect for the home of a country's head of government. Social history is her real expertise, with sound understanding of the day-to-day lives of Londoners over the past centuries. 10 Downing Street, they have in their charge one of the most precious jewels in the nation's heritage". Downing Street History - Audioboom Traditionally, it has always had a chopping block work table in the centre that is 14 feet (4.3m) long, 3 feet (0.91m) wide and 5 inches (13cm) thick. When Margaret Thatcher arrived in 1979 she insisted that the artwork had to be British and that it celebrate "British achievers". Painted off-white with large floor to ceiling windows along one of the long walls, the room is light and airy. Prone to sinking because it was built on soft soil and a shallow foundation, floors buckled and walls and chimneys cracked. On 23 September 1735, the London Daily Post announced that: "Yesterday the Right Hon. The small, six-panelled door, originally made of black oak, is surrounded by cream-coloured casing and adorned with a semicircular fanlight window. 10 DOWNING STREET - 46 Photos & 34 Reviews - 10 Downing Street, London In 2010, the Camerons completely modernised the 50-year-old private kitchen in Number 11. "Under (Prime Minister) Blair . Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Walpole would live there as the incumbent First Lord, but would vacate it for the next one. [87], Erith's concerns proved justified. 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. 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. [39] The cost of conversion is unknown. 10, Downing Street: detail of iron balustrading to main staircase, "YouTube Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. New York City Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) February 15, 2023 Larry's enduring presence at No. He insisted that the Treasury should bear the cost of furnishings at least in the public areas. 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. 294 Following. Los Angeles Socialising indoors with people. Likes. To its left is a long case clock by Benson of Whitehaven. tips on how to get the best view of the street and door, Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms. F: 011-61-293-552-2797. [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the . 10 is in stark contrast to the five prime ministers who have taken office in the past 12 years: David Cameron,. Free. 10 Downing Street | 22,408 followers on LinkedIn. As many as 40 coats of paint were stripped from the elaborate cornices in the main rooms revealing details unseen for almost 200 years in some cases. [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. He then moved the chimney to the east side, running a Y-shaped split flue inside the walls up either side of one of the windows above. Get 5 free searches. "I am heart broken by the result," he said. Larry the Cat celebrates 12 years of service at No. 10 Downing Street : NPR Open now : 11:00 AM - 11:30 PM. The room therefore has a unique architectural feature: over the fireplace there is a window instead of the usual chimney breast. 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. 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. No 10 Downing Street Hair Design [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. 604.536.3353 No. The black appearance was the product of two centuries of pollution. Start your review of No 10 Downing Street. Since 1735, it has been home to the UK's prime ministers. [33], When Count Bothmer died, ownership of the "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown. The number of people allowed in the upper floors was limited for fear the bearing walls would collapse. [54] While there, Pitt reduced the national debt, formed the Triple Alliance against France and won passage of the Act of Union that created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. [148])[149], The terrace and garden were constructed in 1736 shortly after Walpole moved into Number 10. "[57] (See Plan of the Design for Number 10 c1781. Hendrick Danckerts' painting "The Palace of Whitehall" (shown at the beginning of this article) usually hangs in the ante-room. 9 Downing Street to be converted for the new set-up, No. Three brass chandeliers hang from the high ceiling. 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. 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. 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. 2) What is the email address of the Downing Street Press Office? Pt4: The Staircase[111]), In Kent's design for the enlarged Number 10, the Cabinet Room was a simple rectangular space with enormous windows. Balfour revived the custom that Number 10 is the First Lord and Prime Minister's official residence. You have accepted additional cookies. Many of these attractions have ticket prices attached to them for entry. [74], By the middle of the 20th century, Number 10 was falling apart again. 10, Downing Street | British History Online", Plate 111: No. 9. The remaining interior space was converted into a courtyard. [75] The interior would be photographed, measured, disassembled, and restored. Terry also added an ornate gilded ceiling to give the rooms a more stately look. Rome In 1924 when Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald took office, he did not own nor have the means to buy an extensive art collection. Pt4: The Staircase", "Plate 121: No. 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. Role. 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. As a former chemist, she took pleasure in devoting the Small Dining Room to a collection of portraits of British scientists, such as Joseph Priestley and Humphry Davy. The main section had no visible supports. San Francisco [116] It also contains two large bookcases that house the prime minister's library; Cabinet members traditionally donate to the collection on leaving office a tradition that began with Ramsay MacDonald in 1931. Jones, see back cover picture credited to Robert Hill @ BBC. 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' . Protective Packaging Ltd. 2118 Jolicoeur Rue . During Thatcher's premiership, terrorist threats led to the implementation of a second level of security. 10 Downing Street - YouTube 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. Here are some tips on how to get a good glimpse of the famous black door (and perhaps famous people as well). Filter by rating. 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. Culture: Bent, 286] Well send you a link to a feedback form. Black and white engravings and photographs of all the past prime ministers decorate the wall. We will be stepping up capacity of testing to 25,000 people in hospitals a day. From blossom honey to ethical coffee, a number of successful Welsh businesses came to showcase their fantastic produce. 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. Jones, in letter from Margaret Thatcher used as a preface to the book. In 1997, the building was remodelled to provide extra space for the prime minister's greatly increased staff. The work included: "The Back passage into Downing street to be repaired and a new door; a New Necessary House to be made; To take down the Useless passage formerly made for the Maids of Honour to go into Downing Street, when the Queen lived at the Cockpit; To New Cast a great Lead Cistern & pipes and to lay the Water into the house & a new frame for ye Cistern". 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. A private residence for the prime minister's use occupies the third floor and there is a kitchen in the basement. However, the Prime Minister at the time, Harold Wilson, overturned the idea. Should you want to visit this historic street to get a glimpse of the iconic black door of No. [18], For many years, the "House at the Back" was the home of Thomas Knevett, Keeper of Whitehall Palace, famous for capturing Guy Fawkes in 1605 and foiling his plot to assassinate King James I. Grace. Johnson may have misled Parliament over parties, say MPs When Margaret Thatcher came to power it was the Blue Room; she had it re-decorated and renamed the Green Room. Nassau, who Anglicised his name to "Overkirk", lived there until his death in 1708. 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. From 1834 to 1877, it was either vacant or used only for offices and meetings. [56] This proved to be a gross underestimate; the final bill was over 11,000. [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. A ministerial department , also called Number 10. It was used as the dining room when Robert Walpole was prime minister.
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