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. When Margaret Thatcher came to power it was the Blue Room; she had it re-decorated and renamed the Green Room. 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. The State Dining Room contains a mahogany sideboard by Adam. original source. You have accepted additional cookies. Grace. [12], Downing employed Christopher Wren to design the houses. [124], A Persian carpet covers almost the entire floor. Corporation. [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. [148])[149], The terrace and garden were constructed in 1736 shortly after Walpole moved into Number 10. Major moved to Admiralty House while repairs were being completed. Since July 2016 the Prime Minister has been Rt Hon Theresa May MP. Today, there is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I over the fireplace; during the Thatcher, Major and Blair Ministries, a portrait of William Pitt by Romney was hung there. The Modern Cabinet Room: Two photographs taken by Prime Minister. 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". 10 from the Cabinet Office, was passed through with such frequency that its meaning was lost. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a speech on the Windsor Framework. Early security consisted of two police officers: one stood guard outside the door; the other was stationed inside to open it. "[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. Nassau, who Anglicised his name to "Overkirk", lived there until his death in 1708. [158], In addition to outstanding artwork, Number 10 contains many exceptional pieces of furniture either owned by the house or on loan. This arrangement began to change in 1877 when Benjamin Disraeli took up residency. [122], Number 10 has three inter-linked state drawing rooms: the Pillared Drawing Room, the Terracotta Drawing Room and the White Drawing Room. The terrace, extending across the back, provides a full view of St James's Park. )[64], When Lord Salisbury retired in 1902, his nephew, Arthur James Balfour, became Prime Minister. Having united the structures, Kent gutted and rebuilt the interior. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. 10 is in stark contrast to the five prime ministers who have taken office in the past 12 years: David Cameron,. Asked if there is a record of the calls placed through the Number 10 switchboard, the PMS said that she did not know but would check whether all calls are noted and go back to the journalist. Many rooms and sections of the new building were reconstructed exactly as they were in the old Number 10. The headquarters of His Majesty's Government, it is situated on Downing Street in the City of Westminster in London, England. Today, the closest visitors can get is standing on the edge of the street to peer through the permanent black metal gates. The staircase, however, was rebuilt and simplified. The Morning Herald fumed about the expense: "500pounds p.a. Washington DC. On 23 September 1735, the London Daily Post announced that: "Yesterday the Right Hon. Everything in between is offices, conference rooms, reception halls, sitting rooms, dining rooms, etc. Scratches on the right arm were caused by their pistols rubbing up against the leather. [83] The "new" Number 10 consisted of about 60% new materials; the remaining 40% was either restored or replicas of originals. Downing, a notorious spy for Oliver Cromwell and later Charles II, invested in property and acquired considerable wealth. Number 10 represents an apartment building that is over 300 years old and has 100 rooms. From blossom honey to ethical coffee, a number of successful Welsh businesses came to showcase their fantastic produce. [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. At the entrance, a screen of two pairs of Corinthian columns was erected (to carry the extra span of the ceiling) supporting a moulded entablature that wraps around the room. ; 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 . 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 Letterbox is Useless. It became unsafe and frequently required repairs. [40] Seldom seen by anyone other than staff, the space is two storeys high with a huge arched window and vaulted ceiling. The arrangement became the standard practice. [147] (See the Small Dining or Breakfast Room c1927. 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. Also, take a look at the virtual tour of 10 Downing Street on the UK Government's website. [35] He proposedand the King agreedthat the Crown give the properties to the Office of First Lord of the Treasury. To find more go to "More details" about the price bundles. 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. Addl. [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. 10, Downing Street: details, Plate 125: No. 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. [69], Despite these exceptions, Number 10 has been known as the prime minister's official home for over one hundred years. Press Briefing Afternoon 11 June 2012 . 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. 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. Charleston He felt thatit was not right that the public should be prevented from walking down the street and taking photographs outside Number 10. 10, Downing Street: entrance hall and drawing room, Plate 124: No. 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". Prone to sinking because it was built on soft soil and a shallow foundation, floors buckled and walls and chimneys cracked. It also houses the Prime Minister's Executive Office, which deals with logistics and diplomacy concerning the government of the United Kingdom. the British government; refers to location of Prime Minister's residence [Br. 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. 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. BOOK ONLINE Reserve a Spot on a Guided Walking Tour Now! 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. [125], In the restoration conducted in the late 1980s, Quinlan Terry restored the fireplace. Filter by rating. See below for some tips on how to get the best view of the street and door. [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. 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. For larger gatherings, a horseshoe-shaped table is brought in that will accommodate up to 65 guests. Pictures of prime ministers with distinguished guests at the door became commonplace. [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. 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. [42], Shortly after moving in, Walpole ordered that a portion of the land outside his study be converted into a terrace and garden. [82], The new foundation was made of steel-reinforced concrete with pilings sunk 6 to 18 feet (1.8 to 5.5m). [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. 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. [87][93] A black iron knocker in the shape of a lion's head is between the two middle panels; below the knocker is a brass letter box with the inscription "First Lord of the Treasury". Steel was hidden inside the columns in the Pillared Drawing Room to support the floor above. [24], The "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown when Lady Overkirk died in 1720. 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. In the summer of 1993 windows were rebuilt and in 1995 computer cables installed. The small, six-panelled door, originally made of black oak, is surrounded by cream-coloured casing and adorned with a semicircular fanlight window. 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. Get Niall Patrick's email address (n*****@number10.gov.uk) and phone number at RocketReach. In 1924 when Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald took office, he did not own nor have the means to buy an extensive art collection. [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). The modern boat-shaped top, introduced by Harold Macmillan in the late 1950s, is supported by huge original oak legs. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. A private residence for the prime minister's use occupies the third floor and there is a kitchen in the basement. The doorbell is inscribed with "PUSH" although is rarely used in practice. Despite its size and convenient location near to Parliament, few early prime ministers lived at 10 Downing Street. [97][98][99], After the IRA mortar attack in 1991, the original black oak door was replaced by a blast-proof steel one. [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. [77][81] Macmillan lived in Admiralty House during the reconstruction. 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. 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. "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. SW1A 2AS. [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. "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. 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]. An Inside Look at 10 Downing Street. 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". We use some essential cookies to make this website work. That has changed, and now security is very tight, as one would expect for the home of a country's head of government. 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. 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. The garden is dominated by a half-acre (0.2 ha) open lawn which wraps around Numbers 10 and 11 in an L-shape. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Find a Business or Professional Service Provider in Edmonton, White Pages Canada . Learn More. This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. 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. 2371. 10 Downing Street, London number10.gov.uk Joined March 2008. F: 011-61-293-552-2797. A committee found that the money spent so far was insufficient. [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. 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. 10, Downing Street: Official Dining Room, Plate 131: No. London. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. We include information such as how to get there, the best times to go, as well as some virtual tours of the famous residence. The table is surrounded by carved, solid mahogany chairs that also date from the Gladstone era. Role. [155] (See works from the Government Art Collection currently on display at Number 10[156]), About a dozen paintings are changed annually. [154], Number 10 is filled with fine paintings, sculptures, busts and furniture. By the turn of the 20th century, photography and the penny press had linked Number 10 in the public mind with the premiership. Henry Pelham, for example, had his own spacious home and had no need for Number 10. Their possession of the house, albeit temporary, was a perquisite they could bestow as a political reward. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. The remaining interior space was converted into a courtyard. 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. The original door was put on display in the Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms. He had the Government Art Collection loan pieces. [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. [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. 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. However, the Prime Minister at the time, Harold Wilson, overturned the idea. The result was a spacious mansion, lying parallel to Whitehall Palace with a view of St James Park from its garden. (See the three state drawing rooms. About half belong to the Government Art Collection. Overall rating. 4 stars. Although Bothmer complained about "the ruinous Condition of the Premises",[32] he lived there until his death in 1732. However, it is sometimes used for other purposes that require a large open space. D B City mall, 3rd floor Maharana Pratap Nagar, Bhopal 462004 India +91 81096 43000 + Add website. . [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. Winston Churchill is represented in two photographs. In 1931, Mohandas Gandhi, wearing the traditional homespun dhoti, posed leaving Number 10 after meeting with Ramsay MacDonald to discuss India's independence. To preserve the 'traditional' look of recent times, the newly cleaned yellow bricks were painted black to resemble their well-known appearance. 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. 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. 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". There have been a few exceptions. 10, Downing Street: main doorway and kitchen, "Who has the key to front door of No. Public Enquiries: Online Contact Form. It was an easy transition: he was already First Lord of the Treasury and he was already living in Number 10. Tony Blair entertained the England Rugby Union team in the Pillared Room after they won the World Cup in 2003. 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. 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. A ministerial department , also called Number 10. In effect the Treasury building became an annex of Ten Downing Street and its staff worked directly for Walpole on treasury, patronage and other public business. He complained openly during and after the project that the government had altered his design to save money. The agreement in principle reached by the UK and EU regarding the Windsor Framework. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. Edward Heath borrowed French paintings from the National Gallery and was loaned two Renoirs from a private collector. Painted off-white with large floor to ceiling windows along one of the long walls, the room is light and airy. 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. [133], When Frederick Robinson (later Lord Goderich), became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1823, he decided to leave a personal legacy to the nation. Walpole commissioned William Kent to convert them into one building. The Cabinet table, purchased during the Gladstone era, dominates the room. 1 star. 4) What guidance is issued to the Downing Street Press Office, please provide documents, etc? The room therefore has a unique architectural feature: over the fireplace there is a window instead of the usual chimney breast. [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. 's office, based at 10 Downing Street. Downing Street apologised to Buckingham Palace after details emerged of boozy drinks parties, including one for outgoing communications director James Slack. In 1787 Number 5 became "Number 10". You can take bus#11 or ahop-on, hop-off tour bus, both of which pass by frequently. MS. 38292, f. 11) from Lord Liverpool to Charles Ellis, dated 22 January 1823, is of interest. New Orleans Number 10 Downing Street is one of the most famous addresses in the world. 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". Walpole commissioned William Kent to join the three houses and it is this larger house that is known as Number 10 Downing Street. Phone number (604) 536-3353. With a wrought iron balustrade, embellished with a scroll design, and mahogany handrail, it rises from the garden floor to the third floor. "These were useful exchanges. The arrangement became the standard practice. Chicago ", "QI: Quite interesting facts about 10 Downing Street", Plate 126: No. (See The State Dining Room c1930: View toward the entrance[141][142] and View from the entrance[143] and also a more modern view[144])[145], The great kitchen located in the basement was another part of the renovations begun in 1783, probably also under the direction of Robert Taylor. Extensive reconstruction again had to be undertaken in the late 1960s to resolve these problems. Contact: Prime Minister's Office enquiries. 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. [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. Fredrick Robinson, Lord Goderich took a special liking to the house in the late 1820s and spent state funds lavishly remodelling the interior. [70] This picture, too, became famous especially in India. [84][85], Although the reconstruction was generally considered an architectural triumph, Erith was disappointed. He then surmounted the third storey of the house at the back with a pediment. 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. The previous year, Knevett had moved into a house next door, approximately where Number 10 is today.