It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. 10 Downing Street is Government . 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. Read our post which compares these city passes to see if any are a good fit for you. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. The interior wood in the Cabinet Room's double columns was like sawdust. The Ionic motif is also found in the door surrounds and panelling. Greater transparency across government is at the heart of our commitment to let you hold politicians and public bodies to account. John Major announced his 1997 resignation as leader of the Conservative Party in the garden. Socialising indoors with people. [77][81] Macmillan lived in Admiralty House during the reconstruction. 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.. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. [56] This proved to be a gross underestimate; the final bill was over 11,000. Painted off-white with large floor to ceiling windows along one of the long walls, the room is light and airy. Situated in Downing Street in the City of Westminster, London, Number 10 is over 300 years old and contains approximately 100 rooms. British History Online, Letter (B.M. The office helps the Prime Minister to establish and deliver the government's overall strategy and policy priorities, and to communicate the government's policies to Parliament . 10 from the Cabinet Office, was passed through with such frequency that its meaning was lost. Tweets & replies. This was the pattern until the beginning of the 20th century. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. 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. Prime Minister's Office. 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. [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. Save. 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). The work of a slave of the holy place, Maqsud of Kashan in the year 926" (the Islamic year corresponding to 1520). Accessed through the first floor, its vaulted, arched ceiling rises up through the next so that it actually occupies two floors. Scratches on the right arm were caused by their pistols rubbing up against the leather. 10 Downing Street is located in Downing Street, City of Westminster, London. Nassau, who Anglicised his name to "Overkirk", lived there until his death in 1708. Lastly, Google made this crystal-clear 360-degree virtual tour of some of the rooms in 10 Downing Street. Claimed. [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. 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. [89], The work done by Erith and Terry in the 1960s and 1980s represent the most extensive remodelling of Number 10 in recent times. A few prime ministers, such as Tony Blair, occasionally worked at the Cabinet Room table. On these occasions, the table is set with the Silver Trust Silver set given to Downing Street in the 1990s. [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. [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. Walpole would live there as the incumbent First Lord, but would vacate it for the next one. The staircase, however, was rebuilt and simplified. An Inside Look at 10 Downing Street. [33], When Count Bothmer died, ownership of the "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown. 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. [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. The building also hosts foreign dignitaries, national leaders, and government ministers. Pictures of prime ministers with distinguished guests at the door became commonplace. 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". [92], Number 10's door is the product of the renovations Charles Townshend ordered in 1766; it was probably not completed until 1772. They are rearranged slightly to make room for a photograph of each new Prime Minister. 9. in the No 10 press office area to say goodbye to a special adviser . Lord Frost, Chief Negotiator, said: "We have just completed our eighth round of negotiations with the EU. [124], A Persian carpet covers almost the entire floor. 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. [15][16] In 1675 he retired to Cambridge, where he died in 1684, a few months after building was completed. This post covers tours of 10 Downing Street. 8,439 talking about this. [136] Celebrity chefs such as Nigella Lawson have cooked for Prime Ministers' guests using the small kitchen next door. [131], The Terracotta Room is the middle of the three drawing rooms. However, it is sometimes used for other purposes that require a large open space. $88. 10 Downing Street is the official residence and the office of the British Prime Minister. Rome 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. Downing, a notorious spy for Oliver Cromwell and later Charles II, invested in property and acquired considerable wealth. The main section had no visible supports. "I am heart broken by the result," he said. 9 Downing Street to be converted for the new set-up, No. [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. [39] The cost of conversion is unknown. [147] (See the Small Dining or Breakfast Room c1927. After more careful studies were completed, it was concluded that the "total cost was likely to be 1,250,000" and would take two years to complete. When Margaret Thatcher arrived in 1979 she insisted that the artwork had to be British and that it celebrate "British achievers". 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. . 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. In 1997, the building was remodelled to provide extra space for the prime minister's greatly increased staff. 10 Downing Street. [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. Get Directions. 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". 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. Measuring 42 by 26 feet (12.8 by 7.9m), it is the largest room in Number 10. [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. 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? [172] Several changes in staffing took place early in February 2022. 4) What guidance is issued to the Downing Street Press Office, please provide documents, etc? 10 Downing Street 5.3K views4 months ago CC Leaders Visit 10 Downing Street Play all President Duda of Poland visits Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street 10 Downing. 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. 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. In one from 28 April 2021, seven months before press reports about parties first appeared, an unnamed No 10 official noted that another official was "worried about leaks of PM having a piss up and . . Couse's elegant, understated doorstark black, framed in cream white with a bold white "10" clearly visiblewas the perfect backdrop to record such events. tips on how to get the best view of the street and door, Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms. FREE TOURS BY FOOT IS THE ORIGINAL PAY-WHAT-YOU-LIKE WALKING TOUR. ", "QI: Quite interesting facts about 10 Downing Street", Plate 126: No. [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. He left as soon as it was finished. Washington DC. [77], The architect Raymond Erith carried out the design for this painstaking work[78] and the contractor that undertook it was John Mowlem & Co.[79]The Times reported initially that the cost for the project would be 400,000. 2371. London. 1 December 2021, when asked by Sir Keir Starmer if rules were broken: "All guidance was followed completely in No 10." 8 December 2021, when asked whether there was a party in Downing Street on 13 . 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. T: 011-61-293-552-2700. "These were useful exchanges. There is a private residence on the third floor and a private kitchen in the basement. Upon Inquiry, however, it appeared that the House was attached to the Treasury as a Part of the Office. 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. Regardless of this fact, a portrait of him still hangs in the entrance foyer of Number 10 Downing Street. Pt4: The Staircase[111]), In Kent's design for the enlarged Number 10, the Cabinet Room was a simple rectangular space with enormous windows. As a precaution, the black oak door that had stood at the entrance of Number 10 since 1735 was replaced. 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. Number 10 Downing Street is one of the most famous addresses in the world. 10, Downing Street: breakfast room and smaller drawing room, Plate 117: No. Since 2005, Number 10's Direct Communication Unit has not used its staff's real names on signed correspondence to MPs and members of the public; this is for security reasons. Start your review of No 10 Downing Street. 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. [66] To reassure the people that his government was functioning normally, he insisted on being seen entering and leaving Number 10 occasionally, and indeed, continued to use it for meetings and dinners despite being urged not to. 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. 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 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. Since 1990 when the Terry reconstruction was completed, repairing, redecorating, remodelling, and updating the house has been ongoing as needed. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. See letter, dated, "Downing Street, 30 June 1742", from. [67] Harold Wilson, during his second ministry from 1974 to 1976, lived in his home in Lord North Street because Mary Wilson wanted "a proper home". As head of the Great Treasury Commission of 16671672, Albemarle transformed accounting methods and allowed the Crown greater control over expenses. In 1931, Mohandas Gandhi, wearing the traditional homespun dhoti, posed leaving Number 10 after meeting with Ramsay MacDonald to discuss India's independence. 10 Downing Street Hair Design 1639 - 128th Street, Surrey, BC. When Margaret Thatcher came to power it was the Blue Room; she had it re-decorated and renamed the Green Room. If you are not a member of the media, please use the public correspondence contact form. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. 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. [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. So much has this extraordinary edifice cost the country For one moiety of the sum a much better dwelling might have been purchased! Having united the structures, Kent gutted and rebuilt the interior. [44], At about the same time that William Kent was combining the Downing Street townhouse with the house at the back, he was also commissioned to design and construct a new Treasury building on the site of the old Tudor Cockpit located behind Downing Street. The room therefore has a unique architectural feature: over the fireplace there is a window instead of the usual chimney breast. Large, shiny, and black and bearing 10 in large brass numbers, the door is most likely one of the most photographed in the world! Filter by rating. 10 Downing Street, they have in their charge one of the most precious jewels in the nation's heritage". Walpole commissioned William Kent to join the three houses and it is this larger house that is known as Number 10 Downing Street. It became unsafe and frequently required repairs. 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". 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. 8/29/2013. Pt 3: The Dining Room)[140] [71] During World War II, Churchill was photographed many times emerging confidently from Number 10 holding up two fingers in the sign for "Victory". With or without the prime minister present, visitors had their picture taken. Premiership: The Development, Nature and Power of the Office of the British Prime Minister, Imprint Academic. 100 PBX and CRM users. Clickhere to get exact directions from your point of departure. The Press Secretary works within the Prime Minister's Office and the Downing Street Press Office.. History. 9750 Clark Street, Montreal 514-271-7776. Jones, p. 89 and see also Soane's sketches of several versions of the State Dining Room on p. 84. secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, This became the subject of public controversy, principal private secretary to the prime minister, Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Downing Street Director of Communications, Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, "10 Surprising facts about Number 10 Downing Street", Cabinet Office letter dated 9 October 2018, "No. Number 10 represents an apartment building that is over 300 years old and has 100 rooms. I want them all PLUS general travel tips. 's office, based at 10 Downing Street. The White State Drawing Room contains examples of Adam furniture. 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. That has changed, and now security is very tight, as one would expect for the home of a country's head of government. 7 reviews. Speaking outside Downing Street, he said he had secured an "incredible mandate" in the 2019 general election, winning "the biggest Conservative majority since 1987". Although Bothmer complained about "the ruinous Condition of the Premises",[32] he lived there until his death in 1732. 10 is in stark contrast to the five prime ministers who have taken office in the past 12 years: David Cameron,. [23], After Buckingham retired in 1676, Lady Charlotte Fitzroy, Charles II's daughter, moved in when she married Edward Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield. Downing's portrait hangs in the entrance hall of Number 10. We include information such as how to get there, the best times to go, as well as some virtual tours of the famous residence. There have been a few exceptions. During the 1990s John Major converted the first floor anteroom into a small gallery of modern art, mostly British. [154], Number 10 is filled with fine paintings, sculptures, busts and furniture. This website uses cookies to improve your browsingexperience and analyze the use of the website. Audio histories about Number 10 Downing Street, the office of the official residence of the UK Prime Minister We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. 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. 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. Lord North certainly occupied it during the two years he was Chancellor of the Exchequer only. Since 1735, it has been home to the UK's prime ministers. Lisbon [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". 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. . "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. 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. [19][20], From that time, the "House at the Back" was usually occupied by members of the royal family or the government. To them, Number 10 was unimpressive. Hendrick Danckerts' painting "The Palace of Whitehall" (shown at the beginning of this article) usually hangs in the ante-room. [56] In 1783 the Duke of Portland moved out because it was once again in need of repair. Everything in between is offices, conference rooms, reception halls, sitting rooms, dining rooms, etc. This was a formidable undertaking: the three buildings contained over 200 rooms spread out over five floors. Over the years, the addresses changed several times. Only a few are permanent features. [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. [47][48][49][50][51][note 1], Another reason for its unpopularity was that Number 10 was a hazardous place in which to live. This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. (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. Also, take a look at the virtual tour of 10 Downing Street on the UK Government's website. Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme. 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. (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. The freedom fighters could see their leader had been received in the prime minister's home. 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. Extensive reconstruction again had to be undertaken in the late 1960s to resolve these problems. You have accepted additional cookies. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. Protective Packaging Ltd. 2118 Jolicoeur Rue . [125], In the restoration conducted in the late 1980s, Quinlan Terry restored the fireplace. Share. Bolitho, p. 116. 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. [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. The role of Downing Street Permanent Secretary was revived, with Samantha Jones holding the position on an interim basis.[173]. Despite its size and convenient location near to Parliament, few early prime ministers lived at 10 Downing Street. Most are included in a number of tourist attraction discount passes available to you in London. [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. 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. The building hosts offices, conference, dining, and sitting rooms. [24], The "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown when Lady Overkirk died in 1720. A ministerial department , also called Number 10. [12], Downing employed Christopher Wren to design the houses. The houses deteriorated from neglect, became unsafe, and one by one were demolished. 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. You can also reach it by boat with City Cruises from the Westminster City Pier which is very nearby. 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. In addition to the large carpet previously described, the Pillared State Drawing Room also contains a marble-topped table by Kent. Tweets. Carved into the plasterwork above the door leading to the Pillared Room is a tribute to Margaret Thatcher: a straw-carrying 'thatcher'. New York City He then surmounted the third storey of the house at the back with a pediment. Review. The previous year, Knevett had moved into a house next door, approximately where Number 10 is today. The terrace, extending across the back, provides a full view of St James's Park. 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 is the official residence and the office of the British Prime Minister. The original door was put on display in the Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms. Tony Blair entertained the England Rugby Union team in the Pillared Room after they won the World Cup in 2003. Robert Taylor, the architect who executed this concept, was knighted on its completion. BOOK ONLINE Reserve a Spot on a Guided Walking Tour Now! [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. [123]), The largest is the Pillared Room thought to have been created in 1796 by Taylor. There are plenty of other significant London sites within walking distance of Downing Street. The new warrant issued in 1682 reads: "Sir George Downing [is authorised] to build new and more houses subject to the proviso that it be not built any nearer than 14feet of the wall of the said Park at the West end thereof". The number of people allowed in the upper floors was limited for fear the bearing walls would collapse. Larry the cat, whose officialtitle is Chief Mouser, has been living at 10 Downing Street since February 2011. 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. )[64], When Lord Salisbury retired in 1902, his nephew, Arthur James Balfour, became Prime Minister. [36], To enlarge the new house, Walpole persuaded Mr Chicken, the tenant of a cottage next door, to move to another house in 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. 10 Downing Street Bhopal.