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. With an area in No. [91], The current tenant of 10 Downing Street is Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. 10 Downing Street, London number10.gov.uk Joined March 2008. That the First Lord of the Treasury occupies it if he thinks proper. Learn More. 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. [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. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. 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]. 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. 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). tips on how to get the best view of the street and door, Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms. Filter by rating. In 1974, it was suggested that permanent barriers should be erected to prevent the public from walking along the street. 2 stars. 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. About half belong to the Government Art Collection. In 1787 Number 5 became "Number 10". 10, Downing Street: breakfast room and smaller drawing room, Plate 117: No. He insisted that the Treasury should bear the cost of furnishings at least in the public areas. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. Due to bomb damage in 1940, the Treasury relocated to the Government Offices Great George Street. [162], That same year, the Leisure Circle published Christopher Jones' book No. Most lent it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, others to lesser officials or to friends and relatives. [40] Seldom seen by anyone other than staff, the space is two storeys high with a huge arched window and vaulted ceiling. 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. 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? "I am heart broken by the result," he said. Most are included in a number of tourist attraction discount passes available to you in London. I want them all PLUS general travel tips. An advertisement in 1720 described it as "a pretty open Place, especially at the upper end, where are four or five very large and well-built Houses, fit for Persons of Honour and Quality; each House having a pleasant Prospect into St James's Park, with a Tarras Walk". Adjacent to St James's Park, Number 10 is approximately 34 mile (1.2km) from Buckingham Palace, the London residence of the British Monarch, and near the Palace of Westminster, the meeting place of both Houses of Parliament. Behind its black door have been taken the most important decisions affecting Britain for the last 275 years. 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. [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. 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. As noted above, you cannot walk on Downing Street as a member of the general public. [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 number of people allowed in the upper floors was limited for fear the bearing walls would collapse. The doorbell is inscribed with "PUSH" although is rarely used in practice. Save. You are mistaken in supposing that Mr. Vansittart is the only Chancellor of the Exchequer who, without being first Lord of the Treasury, occupied it. If you are not a member of the media, please use the public correspondence contact form. 10 Downing, check out our guided Westminster Tourand ourLondon in a Day Tour, which both stop at Downing Street. On 23 September 1735, the London Daily Post announced that: "Yesterday the Right Hon. Early security consisted of two police officers: one stood guard outside the door; the other was stationed inside to open it. The Hampden family had a lease on the land that they refused to relinquish. . [26], However, there have been numerous times when prime ministers have unofficially lived elsewhere out of necessity or preference. D B City mall, 3rd floor Maharana Pratap Nagar, Bhopal 462004 India +91 81096 43000 + Add website. )[26][55], Treasury officials complained that the building was costing too much to maintain; some suggested that it should be razed and a new house constructed on the site or elsewhere. The Data Protection Officer provides independent advice and monitoring of Cabinet Office's use of personal information. )[58][59], A few prime ministers however did enjoy living in Number 10. [74], By the middle of the 20th century, Number 10 was falling apart again. [15][16] In 1675 he retired to Cambridge, where he died in 1684, a few months after building was completed. 9. [10], Straightforward as the investment seemed, it proved otherwise. 10, Downing Street, entrance hall and drawing room", "Apollo 11 mission 50 years on: The Cambridge scientist who helped put man on the moon", "Story behind the Terracotta Room at Downing Street", "YouTube Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. 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. Boston Jones, p. 52. 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' . 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. 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. Start your review of No 10 Downing Street. In addition to the large carpet previously described, the Pillared State Drawing Room also contains a marble-topped table by Kent. MS. 38292, f. 11) from Lord Liverpool to Charles Ellis, dated 22 January 1823, is of interest. Tony Blair entertained the England Rugby Union team in the Pillared Room after they won the World Cup in 2003. 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. 5 . Grace. 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. [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. View Company Not the person you were looking for? 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. Albemarle is the first treasury minister to have lived in what became the home of the First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister. [42], Shortly after moving in, Walpole ordered that a portion of the land outside his study be converted into a terrace and garden. [127][128] (See The Pillared Drawing Room c1927). Extensive reconstruction again had to be undertaken in the late 1960s to resolve these problems. To find more go to "More details" about the price bundles. 10 Downing Street is the official residence and the office of the British Prime Minister. [72], The symbol of British government, Number 10 became a gathering place for protesters. He insisted that the Treasury should bear the cost of furnishings at least in the public areas. He then surmounted the third storey of the house at the back with a pediment. 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. Speaking outside Downing Street, he said he had secured an "incredible mandate" in the 2019 general election, winning "the biggest Conservative majority since 1987". 2) What is the email address of the Downing Street Press Office? [88] Further extensive repairs and remodelling, commissioned by Margaret Thatcher, were completed in the 1980s under the direction of Erith's associate, Quinlan Terry. Prime Minister's Office. Balfour revived the custom that Number 10 is the First Lord and Prime Minister's official residence. 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. Having united the structures, Kent gutted and rebuilt the interior. 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. Upon Inquiry, however, it appeared that the House was attached to the Treasury as a Part of the Office. Please note, if you have a media query concerning the Prime Minister or media access to. We covered all issues in some detail, including the most difficult ones. However, it is sometimes used for other purposes that require a large open space. [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. 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. Many rooms and sections of the new building were reconstructed exactly as they were in the old Number 10. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Originally three houses, Number 10 was offered to Robert Walpole by King George II in 1732. [115] The resulting small space, framed by the pillars, serves as an anteroom to the larger area. [147] (See the Small Dining or Breakfast Room c1927. The contact . New Orleans [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. [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. It was used as the dining room when Robert Walpole was prime minister. Media. 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. Socialising indoors with people. 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. [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 room therefore has a unique architectural feature: over the fireplace there is a window instead of the usual chimney breast. 9 Downing Street to be converted for the new set-up, No. 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. A few prime ministers, such as Tony Blair, occasionally worked at the Cabinet Room table. [4], 10 Downing Street is Government property. 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 project was completed in 1737 and included corridors connecting the Treasury building with Ten Downing Street allowing Walpole, as Chancellor of the Exchequer as well as First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister, direct and convenient access to the Treasury offices. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a speech on the Windsor Framework. 10 is now on the hunt for an experienced broadcaster to host the daily press conference and be the government's voice . From blossom honey to ethical coffee, a number of successful Welsh businesses came to showcase their fantastic produce. You have rejected additional cookies. The Duke of Wellington, for example, grudgingly lived there for eighteen months between 1828 and 1830 because his own home, Apsley House, was undergoing extensive renovations. [133], The White State Drawing room was, until the 1940s, used by Prime Ministers and their partners for their private use. Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. 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. [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). Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. [38], The rebuilding took three years. [105][106] At the bottom of the staircase are group photographs of Prime Ministers with their Cabinet ministers and representatives to imperial conferences. Official page for the office of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, based at 10 Downing Street. This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. 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. Large, shiny, and black and bearing 10 in large brass numbers, the door is most likely one of the most photographed in the world! At this time we are not able to respond to emails that do not fall into this category or are of a general nature.Please consider carefully whether your email is necessary and note that emails are not monitored throughout the day or at weekends. "These were useful exchanges. Larry the cat, whose officialtitle is Chief Mouser, has been living at 10 Downing Street since February 2011. [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. In 1931, Mohandas Gandhi, wearing the traditional homespun dhoti, posed leaving Number 10 after meeting with Ramsay MacDonald to discuss India's independence. Various political advisers have in the past acted in a press . The role of Downing Street Permanent Secretary was revived, with Samantha Jones holding the position on an interim basis.[173]. 6M Followers. This arrangement began to change in 1877 when Benjamin Disraeli took up residency. This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. 10 Political Office (party political liaison and constituency affairs). [19][20], From that time, the "House at the Back" was usually occupied by members of the royal family or the government. You can take bus#11 or ahop-on, hop-off tour bus, both of which pass by frequently. Likes. Pt4: The Staircase", "Plate 121: No. . [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. [137][138][139] (See Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. 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. 8,439 talking about this. Blick, Andrew and Jones, George (2010). Philadelphia There is a private residence on the third floor and a private kitchen in the basement. )[64], When Lord Salisbury retired in 1902, his nephew, Arthur James Balfour, became Prime Minister. [84][85], Although the reconstruction was generally considered an architectural triumph, Erith was disappointed. [131], The Terracotta Room is the middle of the three drawing rooms. The same restrictions applied when No 10 staff gathered for a "bring your own booze" event in the Downing Street garden. During Thatcher's premiership, terrorist threats led to the implementation of a second level of security. [126], Sparsely furnished with a few chairs and sofas around the walls, the Pillared Room is usually used to receive guests before they go into the State Dining Room. [125], In the restoration conducted in the late 1980s, Quinlan Terry restored the fireplace. This structure can be seen today as the rear section of Number 10. As part of the renovations begun in 1783, it was extended, giving the space its modern appearance. That has changed, and now security is very tight, as one would expect for the home of a country's head of government. The upper floors were modernised and the third floor extended over Numbers 11 and 12 to allow more living space. As a precaution, the black oak door that had stood at the entrance of Number 10 since 1735 was replaced. Plans of 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street (published 1931): This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 14:14. Amsterdam (See the three state drawing rooms. A private residence for the prime minister's use occupies the third floor and there is a kitchen in the basement. 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. As head of the Great Treasury Commission of 16671672, Albemarle transformed accounting methods and allowed the Crown greater control over expenses. [9] Between 1682 and 1684, Downing built a cul-de-sac of two-storey town houses with coach-houses, stables and views of St James's Park. 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. On these occasions, the table is set with the Silver Trust Silver set given to Downing Street in the 1990s. V4A 3V2 The Windsor Framework, agreed by the Prime Minister and European Commission President, replaces the old Northern Ireland Protocol, providing a new legal and UK constitutional framework. San Francisco F: 011-61-293-552-2797. This was a formidable undertaking: the three buildings contained over 200 rooms spread out over five floors. It also houses the Prime Minister's Executive Office, which deals with logistics and diplomacy concerning the government of the United Kingdom. The Green State Drawing Room contains mostly Chippendale furniture including a card table that belonged to Clive of India and a mahogany desk that is thought to have belonged to William Pitt the Younger and used by him during the Napoleonic Wars. 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. 10 Downing Street, The Story of a House. [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". The agreement in principle reached by the UK and EU regarding the Windsor Framework. Addl. We include information such as how to get there, the best times to go, as well as some virtual tours of the famous residence. [148])[149], The terrace and garden were constructed in 1736 shortly after Walpole moved into Number 10. T: 011-61-293-552-2700. 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. [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. By 1857 Downing Street's townhouses were all gone except for Number 10, Number 11 (customarily the Chancellor of the Exchequer's residence), and Number 12 (used as offices for Government Whips).
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