[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. [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. Early in the 17th century, the Cockpit was converted to a concert hall and theatre; after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, some of the first cabinet meetings were held there secretly. 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. 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). Painted off-white with large floor to ceiling windows along one of the long walls, the room is light and airy. 10 Downing, check out our guided Westminster Tourand ourLondon in a Day Tour, which both stop at Downing Street. SW1A 2AS. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Many of these attractions have ticket prices attached to them for entry. [158], In addition to outstanding artwork, Number 10 contains many exceptional pieces of furniture either owned by the house or on loan. He insisted that the Treasury should bear the cost of furnishings at least in the public areas. The town house, from which the modern building gets its name, was one of several built by George Downing between 1682 and 1684. [61][62] (See Numbers 10, 11, and 12 Downing Street First Floor Plan[63] and Ground Floor Plan. [133], When Frederick Robinson (later Lord Goderich), became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1823, he decided to leave a personal legacy to the nation. 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. 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. Prime ministers come and go, but one resident of 10 Downing Street has no plans to leave any time soon. A few peers lived in Number 10 out of necessity. 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. The Ministry of Works has insisted on economy after economy. 10, Downing Street: plan of alterations in 1781, "Electoral Commission to investigate Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat renovations", "Trump and May to meet for talks in Davos after 'special relationship' tested", 10 Downing Street: The World's Most Famous Front Door, Plate 118: No. An American simply by accident of birth, Margaret moved to London over 16 years ago and hasnt looked back since! [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. Hendrick Danckerts' painting "The Palace of Whitehall" (shown at the beginning of this article) usually hangs in the ante-room. 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. Entering through the Small Dining Room, Blair used this room for his monthly press conferences. 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. in the No 10 press office area to say goodbye to a special adviser . Lord North, who conducted the war against the American Revolution, lived there happily with his family from 1767 to 1782. [164] It is staffed by a mix of career civil servants and special advisers. Regularly removed for refurbishment and replaced with a replica, it is so heavy that it takes eight men to lift it. Lord North certainly occupied it during the two years he was Chancellor of the Exchequer only. Role. [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. Premiership: The Development, Nature and Power of the Office of the British Prime Minister, Imprint Academic. Prague In a piece of "blatant political corruption", he allowed his son-in-law. 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. Speaking outside Downing Street, he said he had secured an "incredible mandate" in the 2019 general election, winning "the biggest Conservative majority since 1987". Share. "My Lord's Study"[41] (as Kent labelled it in his drawings) would later become the Cabinet Room where Prime Ministers meet with the Cabinet ministers. [24], The "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown when Lady Overkirk died in 1720. You can change your cookie settings at any time. [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 attack led to the addition of guardhouses at the street ends as well as other less visible measures to further improve security of Downing Street. Culture: Bent, 286] The building also hosts foreign dignitaries, national leaders, and government ministers. 10. Carved into the plasterwork above the door leading to the Pillared Room is a tribute to Margaret Thatcher: a straw-carrying 'thatcher'. Unlimited calls to the US and Canada with additional call minutes to 20 other countries within one bundle. 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. [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. Three brass chandeliers hang from the high ceiling. Balfour revived the custom that Number 10 is the First Lord and Prime Minister's official residence. 2371. Fredrick Robinson, Lord Goderich took a special liking to the house in the late 1820s and spent state funds lavishly remodelling the interior. Amsterdam In March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson refurbished the residential apartment at Number 11. He complained openly during and after the project that the government had altered his design to save money. Kent's staircase is the first architectural feature visitors see as they enter Number 10. [3] Walpole accepted on the condition that the gift was to the office of First Lord of the Treasury. 10 Downing Street is located in the City of Westminster, just a short walk away from the Palace of Westminster and Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. 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. After Prime Minister Robert Peel "gave up" being Chancellor in 1841, and this separation of positions gradually became a convention of the constitution, a locked door was installed between the buildings limiting the Prime Minister's access to the Treasury and its staff. The Crown authorised extensive rebuilding which included adding a storey, thus giving it three main floors, an attic and basement. Having united the structures, Kent gutted and rebuilt the interior. Since July 2016 the Prime Minister has been Rt Hon Theresa May MP. Los Angeles Socialising indoors with people. [84][85], Although the reconstruction was generally considered an architectural triumph, Erith was disappointed. . The Data Protection Officer provides independent advice and monitoring of Cabinet Office's use of personal information. Pt4: The Staircase[111]), In Kent's design for the enlarged Number 10, the Cabinet Room was a simple rectangular space with enormous windows. 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. 10, Downing Street: detail of iron balustrading to main staircase, "YouTube Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. He also introduced several paintings by John Constable and J. M. W. Turner, Britain's two best known 19th-century artists, and cricketing paintings by Archibald Stuart-Wortley including a portrait of one of England's most celebrated batsmen W. G. This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. Behind its black door have been taken the most important decisions affecting Britain for the last 275 years. [105][106] At the bottom of the staircase are group photographs of Prime Ministers with their Cabinet ministers and representatives to imperial conferences. International agreements have been signed in this room. V4A 3V2 [83], When builders examined the exterior faade, they discovered that the black colour visible even in photographs from the mid-19th century was misleading; the bricks were actually yellow. Save. Downing Street itself was built in the 1680s by Sir George Downing who had purchased a large tract of land near Parliament, on the edge of St. Jamess Park. The Treasury issued an order "for repairing and fitting it up in the best and most substantial manner" at a cost of 2,522. 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. 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. 10 Downing Street | 22,408 followers on LinkedIn. [31], Johann Caspar von Bothmer, Premier Minister of the Electorate of Hanover, head of the German Chancery and adviser to George I and II, took up residency in 1720. To them, Number 10 was unimpressive. [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. Prone to sinking because it was built on soft soil and a shallow foundation, floors buckled and walls and chimneys cracked. "I am heart broken by the result," he said. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. [72], The symbol of British government, Number 10 became a gathering place for protesters. "The whole project has been a frightful waste of money because it just has not been done properly. Most are included in a number of tourist attraction discount passes available to you in London. If you are emailing about an issue relating to the responsibilities of another Government Department or public authority then you should contact them directly.Due to the exceptionally high volumes of emails being received at this time, the Prime Ministers Office is only able to deal with those that relate directly to the Prime Minister. Read our post which compares these city passes to see if any are a good fit for you. Contact: Prime Minister's Office enquiries. That the First Lord of the Treasury occupies it if he thinks proper. T: 011-61-293-552-2700. [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. Number 10 media team, 10 September 2020 - Uncategorized. [102], Couse also added a bow front to the small cottageformerly Mr Chicken's houseincorporated into Number 10 in Walpole's time. 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. Various political advisers have in the past acted in a press . Measuring 42 by 26 feet (12.8 by 7.9m), it is the largest room in Number 10. Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. Bolitho, p. 116. The House stands in fact upon the same footing as the Houses of the Admiralty, which could not be assigned to any Person not belonging to that office. View Company Not the person you were looking for? It is often used as the backdrop for television interviews and is in regular use as a meeting room for Downing Street staff. [37] This small house and the mansion at the back were then incorporated into Number 10. Number 10 Downing Street is one of the most famous addresses in the world. [11] When the Hampden lease expired, Downing received permission to build on land further west to take advantage of more recent property developments. However, some commentators have suggested that Blair's reforms have created something similar to a Prime Minister's Department. Pt3: The Dining Room", Plate 130: No. Audio histories about Number 10 Downing Street, the office of the official residence of the UK Prime Minister You have rejected additional cookies. The main section had no visible supports. Couse's elegant, understated doorstark black, framed in cream white with a bold white "10" clearly visiblewas the perfect backdrop to record such events. Get 5 free searches. Over the years, the addresses changed several times. With a wrought iron balustrade, embellished with a scroll design, and mahogany handrail, it rises from the garden floor to the third floor. [125], In the restoration conducted in the late 1980s, Quinlan Terry restored the fireplace. In addition to the large carpet previously described, the Pillared State Drawing Room also contains a marble-topped table by Kent. Edward Heath borrowed French paintings from the National Gallery and was loaned two Renoirs from a private collector. Everything in between is offices, conference rooms, reception halls, sitting rooms, dining rooms, etc. In the summer of 1993 windows were rebuilt and in 1995 computer cables installed. 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. It presently houses the UK Cabinet Room in which Cabinet meetings in the UK take place, chaired by the current Prime Minister, Sunak. The Modern Cabinet Room: Two photographs taken by Prime Minister. [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). We stopped by while listening to our free Rick Steves' audio tour of Westminster on our iPods. [74], By the middle of the 20th century, Number 10 was falling apart again. 604.536.3353 No. Tubs of flowers line the steps from the terrace; around the walls are rose beds with flowering and evergreen shrubs. Kent's door was modest, belying the spacious elegance beyond. BOOK ONLINE Reserve a Spot on a Guided Walking Tour Now! 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. See below for some tips on how to get the best view of the street and door. 10 Downing Street. As a precaution, the black oak door that had stood at the entrance of Number 10 since 1735 was replaced. The front door to Number 10 is most likely the most famous feature of the building. Today, the closest visitors can get is standing on the edge of the street to peer through the permanent black metal gates. Despite its size and convenient location near to Parliament, few early prime ministers lived at 10 Downing Street. 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. [75] The interior would be photographed, measured, disassembled, and restored. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. You can also try our GPS-enabled anytime audio tourwhich includes a stop at Downing Street. 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. [19][20], From that time, the "House at the Back" was usually occupied by members of the royal family or the government. In 1766, for example, Charles Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer, pointed out that the house was in a dilapidated condition. The previous year, Knevett had moved into a house next door, approximately where Number 10 is today. [75][76], In 1958, a committee under the chairmanship of the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres was appointed by Harold Macmillan to investigate the condition of the house and make recommendations. 1 star. This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. Downing planned to build a row of terraced town houses "for persons of good quality to inhabit in"[9] The street on which he built them now bears his name, and the largest became part of Number 10 Downing Street. New Orleans Philadelphia This was a formidable undertaking: the three buildings contained over 200 rooms spread out over five floors. [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the . 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. There have been a few exceptions. Walpole commissioned William Kent to join the three houses and it is this larger house that is known as Number 10 Downing Street. Of the 31 First Lords from 1735 to 1902, only 16 (including Walpole) lived in Number 10. [133], The White State Drawing room was, until the 1940s, used by Prime Ministers and their partners for their private use. 6M Followers. Since 1735, it has been home to the UK's prime ministers. The Cabinet Office press office only deals with enquiries from the media. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Lastly, Google made this crystal-clear 360-degree virtual tour of some of the rooms in 10 Downing Street. 10 Downing Street, they have in their charge one of the most precious jewels in the nation's heritage". However, a number of challenging areas remain . A few prime ministers, such as Tony Blair, occasionally worked at the Cabinet Room table. Please note, if you have a media query concerning the Prime Minister or media access to. William Pitt the Younger, who made it his home for twenty years (longer than any First Lord before or since) from 1783 to 1801 and from 1804 to 1806, referred to it as "My vast, awkward house". [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. )[58][59], A few prime ministers however did enjoy living in Number 10. [10], Straightforward as the investment seemed, it proved otherwise. With a keen interest in History and a BA degree to match Margaret prides herself on her knowledge of the amazing city she calls home and she's been guiding here now for nearly a decade. Any original materials that were beyond repair such as the pair of double columns in the Cabinet Room would be replicated in detail. Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. The Letterbox is Useless. He had the Government Art Collection loan pieces. Originally estimated at 8,000, the final cost probably exceeded 20,000. [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. Painted in white, between the top and middle sets of panels, is the number "10". It also houses the Prime Minister's Executive Office, which deals with logistics and diplomacy concerning the government of the United Kingdom. The introduction of films and television would strengthen this association. Accessed through the first floor, its vaulted, arched ceiling rises up through the next so that it actually occupies two floors. 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 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. 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. In 1991, member of the IRA had attacked 10 Downing Street with homemade mortar shells, in hopes of killing or severely injuring Sir John Major, then-Prime Minster of the UK. We will be stepping up capacity of testing to 25,000 people in hospitals a day. Get Directions. [12], Downing employed Christopher Wren to design the houses. Churchill called his secretaries the "garden girls" because their offices overlook the garden. Public Enquiries: Online Contact Form. 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. [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. About half belong to the Government Art Collection. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) February 15, 2023 Larry's enduring presence at No. [71] During World War II, Churchill was photographed many times emerging confidently from Number 10 holding up two fingers in the sign for "Victory". 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. Dubai You can also reach it by boat with City Cruises from the Westminster City Pier which is very nearby. Tweets. 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. During the 1990s John Major converted the first floor anteroom into a small gallery of modern art, mostly British. (See Kent's Treasury and No. The upper floors were modernised and the third floor extended over Numbers 11 and 12 to allow more living space. 5 stars. 8,439 talking about this. The staircase had sunk several inches; some steps were buckled and the balustrade was out of alignment. 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. 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. 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. Nassau, who Anglicised his name to "Overkirk", lived there until his death in 1708. . Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a speech on the Windsor Framework. [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. 10 is now on the hunt for an experienced broadcaster to host the daily press conference and be the government's voice . One of the largest rooms was a study measuring forty feet by twenty with enormous windows overlooking St James's Park. My head has no protection other than this porchway. London. The original door was put on display in the Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms. History of the "House at the Back" before 1733, First politician and "head of government" in the house, 10 Downing Street and Kent's Treasury Building, Current positions within the Office of the Prime Minister. A similar number are employed in the equivalent operation in the Cabinet . 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. "Under (Prime Minister) Blair . Although large, they were put up quickly and cheaply on soft soil with shallow foundations. [88] Further extensive repairs and remodelling, commissioned by Margaret Thatcher, were completed in the 1980s under the direction of Erith's associate, Quinlan Terry. 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. 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. 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. 10, Downing Street: breakfast room and smaller drawing room, Plate 117: No. [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. Walpole commissioned William Kent to convert them into one building. 10 Downing Street is Government . (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. 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. Tony Blair entertained the England Rugby Union team in the Pillared Room after they won the World Cup in 2003. 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". "[57] (See Plan of the Design for Number 10 c1781. )[64], When Lord Salisbury retired in 1902, his nephew, Arthur James Balfour, became Prime Minister. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. Overall rating. Behind its. You have rejected additional cookies. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. [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. 4) What guidance is issued to the Downing Street Press Office, please provide documents, etc? Downing Street apologised to Buckingham Palace after details emerged of boozy drinks parties, including one for outgoing communications director James Slack. 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?