Usually furnished with a mahogany table seating only eight, Prime Ministers have often used this room when dining with family or when entertaining special guests on more personal state occasions. 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. He has now seen two PMs come and go. 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, they have in their charge one of the most precious jewels in the nation's heritage". "I am heart broken by the result," he said. 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 . Executed in the Kentian style, the small Ionic pilasters in the over-mantel are miniature duplicates of the large Ionic pillars in the room. [38], The rebuilding took three years. He then surmounted the third storey of the house at the back with a pediment. 4) What guidance is issued to the Downing Street Press Office, please provide documents, etc? [40] Seldom seen by anyone other than staff, the space is two storeys high with a huge arched window and vaulted ceiling. It exploded in the back garden, while Prime Minister John Major was holding a Cabinet meeting. That the First Lord of the Treasury occupies it if he thinks proper. Large, shiny, and black and bearing 10 in large brass numbers, the door is most likely one of the most photographed in the world! Prime Minister's Office. Extensive reconstruction again had to be undertaken in the late 1960s to resolve these problems. 10 is in stark contrast to the five prime ministers who have taken office in the past 12 years: David Cameron,. Washington DC. Clickhere to get exact directions from your point of departure. [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. 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. To preserve the 'traditional' look of recent times, the newly cleaned yellow bricks were painted black to resemble their well-known appearance. This was a formidable undertaking: the three buildings contained over 200 rooms spread out over five floors. The building itself is made up of over 100 hundred rooms only part of which is actually residential. Costly to maintain, neglected, and run-down, Number 10 was scheduled to be demolished several times, but the property survived and became linked with many statesmen and events in British history. 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. [70] This picture, too, became famous especially in India. 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. It was an easy transition: he was already First Lord of the Treasury and he was already living in Number 10. 8,439 talking about this. Dry rot was widespread throughout. Social history is her real expertise, with sound understanding of the day-to-day lives of Londoners over the past centuries. [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. You can change your cookie settings at any time. ", "QI: Quite interesting facts about 10 Downing Street", Plate 126: No. 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). [22], In 1671 George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham took possession when he joined the Cabal Ministry. Prime ministers come and go, but one resident of 10 Downing Street has no plans to leave any time soon. If you are not a member of the media, please use the public correspondence contact form. [72], The symbol of British government, Number 10 became a gathering place for protesters. 10, Downing Street: Official Dining Room, Plate 129: No. I had called them asking if they could add a toner to my hair over the phone . Since 1990 when the Terry reconstruction was completed, repairing, redecorating, remodelling, and updating the house has been ongoing as needed. [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. 10 Downing Street Hair Design 1639 - 128th Street, Surrey, BC. [4], 10 Downing Street is Government property. Most are on loan. Larry the cat, whose officialtitle is Chief Mouser, has been living at 10 Downing Street since February 2011. The doorbell is inscribed with "PUSH" although is rarely used in practice. However, some commentators have suggested that Blair's reforms have created something similar to a Prime Minister's Department. The other floors contain offices and conference, reception, sitting and dining rooms where the prime minister works, and where government ministers, national leaders and foreign dignitaries are met and hosted. 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. With an area in No. Winston Churchill wrote that Number 10 was "shaky and lightly built by the profiteering contractor whose name they bear". 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. [164] It is staffed by a mix of career civil servants and special advisers. Most lent it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, others to lesser officials or to friends and relatives. There is a private residence on the third floor and a private kitchen in the basement. Henry Pelham, for example, had his own spacious home and had no need for 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. Black and white engravings and photographs of all the past prime ministers decorate the wall. From blossom honey to ethical coffee, a number of successful Welsh businesses came to showcase their fantastic produce. Accessed through the first floor, its vaulted, arched ceiling rises up through the next so that it actually occupies two floors. Many rooms and sections of the new building were reconstructed exactly as they were in the old Number 10. Suffragettes posed in front of the door when they petitioned H. H. Asquith for women's rights in 1913, a picture that became famous and was circulated around the world. 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. 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. 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. A few prime ministers, such as Tony Blair, occasionally worked at the Cabinet Room table. )[58][59], A few prime ministers however did enjoy living in Number 10. The interior wood in the Cabinet Room's double columns was like sawdust. [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". There were also delays when archaeological excavations uncovered important artefacts dating from Roman, Saxon and medieval times. 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. They said sure no problem and booked my appointment. "These were useful exchanges. F: 011-61-293-552-2797. 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. Kent's door was modest, belying the spacious elegance beyond. During Thatcher's premiership, terrorist threats led to the implementation of a second level of security. . 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. 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. 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. Executed in the Georgian style by the architect Kenton Couse, it is unassuming and narrow, consisting of a single white stone step leading to a modest brick front. Despite its size and convenient location near to Parliament, few early prime ministers lived at 10 Downing Street. Save. 10 Downing Street | 22,408 followers on LinkedIn. Protective Packaging Ltd. 2118 Jolicoeur Rue . [37] This small house and the mansion at the back were then incorporated into Number 10. To its left is a long case clock by Benson of Whitehaven. Number 10 Downing Street is one of the most famous addresses in the world. 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. From 1834 to 1877, it was either vacant or used only for offices and meetings. The huge . "Under (Prime Minister) Blair . Berlin An Inside Look at 10 Downing Street. [80] In the end, the cost was close to 3,000,000 and took almost three years due in large part to 14 labour strikes. A few peers lived in Number 10 out of necessity. The front door to Number 10 is most likely the most famous feature of the building. I am bitterly disappointed with what has happened. 1 star. [6][7][8] In 1654, he purchased the lease on land south of St James's Park, adjacent to the House at the Back within walking distance of parliament. The town house, from which the modern building gets its name, was one of several built by George Downing between 1682 and 1684. 10 Downing Street 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' . The staircase had sunk several inches; some steps were buckled and the balustrade was out of alignment. Contact: Prime Minister's Office enquiries. [170] Since Number 10 is formally part of the Cabinet Office, it reports directly to the Cabinet Secretary, who is currently[update] Simon Case. . 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. 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. Scratches on the right arm were caused by their pistols rubbing up against the leather. Lastly, Google made this crystal-clear 360-degree virtual tour of some of the rooms in 10 Downing Street. [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. The deterioration had been obvious for some time. The arrangement became the standard practice. Pt3: The Dining Room", Plate 130: No. On 23 September 1735, the London Daily Post announced that: "Yesterday the Right Hon. 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. "The whole project has been a frightful waste of money because it just has not been done properly. Here he is, on May 24, 2019, being escorted into the residence just minutes before Theresa May stood in front of the famous black door and announced her resignation. 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. 10 Political Office (party political liaison and constituency affairs). He left as soon as it was finished. 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? 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. Measuring 37 feet (11m) long by 28 feet (8.5m) wide, it takes its name from the twin Ionic pilasters with straight pediments at one end. The zero of the number "10" is painted in a very eccentric style, in a 37 angle anticlockwise. By the 1800s the houses had nearly all been taken over by the government. A private residence for the prime minister's use occupies the third floor and there is a kitchen in the basement. You have rejected additional cookies. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. International agreements have been signed in this room. Socialising indoors with people. 's office, based at 10 Downing Street. To find more go to "More details" about the price bundles. original source. As a precaution, the black oak door that had stood at the entrance of Number 10 since 1735 was replaced. After reconstruction had begun, miners dug down into the foundations and found that the huge wooden beams supporting the house had decayed. The Hampden family had a lease on the land that they refused to relinquish. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. 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. 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. In 1766, for example, Charles Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer, pointed out that the house was in a dilapidated condition. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. [40], Walpole did not enter through the now-famous door; that would not be installed until forty years later. However, the Prime Minister at the time, Harold Wilson, overturned the idea. The freedom fighters could see their leader had been received in the prime minister's home. About half belong to the Government Art Collection. Open now : 11:00 AM - 11:30 PM. [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. 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 . The Modern Cabinet Room: Two photographs taken by Prime Minister. He had the Government Art Collection loan pieces. However, it is sometimes used for other purposes that require a large open space. Bolitho, p. 116. [84][85], Although the reconstruction was generally considered an architectural triumph, Erith was disappointed. Having united the structures, Kent gutted and rebuilt the interior. 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. [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. preceding the Great Repair, and 11,000 the Great Repair itself! Early security consisted of two police officers: one stood guard outside the door; the other was stationed inside to open it. 2) What is the email address of the Downing Street Press Office? 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. (3)Make sure to go to the gates on Whitehall, which is where you will get your best pictures through the heavy security and barriers. This website uses cookies to improve your browsingexperience and analyze the use of the website. [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". A copy of a 16th-century original now kept in the Victoria and Albert Museum, there is an inscription woven into it that reads: "I have no refuge in the world other than thy threshold. 10, Downing Street | British History Online", Plate 111: No. [26], However, there have been numerous times when prime ministers have unofficially lived elsewhere out of necessity or preference. To reach 10 Downing Street by tube, it's best to reach it by either the Westminster or Charing Cross Station. Nashville 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. New York City Steel was hidden inside the columns in the Pillared Drawing Room to support the floor above. [12], Downing employed Christopher Wren to design the houses. [82], The new foundation was made of steel-reinforced concrete with pilings sunk 6 to 18 feet (1.8 to 5.5m). The work of a slave of the holy place, Maqsud of Kashan in the year 926" (the Islamic year corresponding to 1520). [137][138][139] (See Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. You can take bus#11 or ahop-on, hop-off tour bus, both of which pass by frequently. 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. 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. The Ministry of Works has insisted on economy after economy. [41] The name changes according to the colour it is painted. [53] Townshend ordered extensive repairs, which were still incomplete eight years later. Of the 31 First Lords from 1735 to 1902, only 16 (including Walpole) lived in Number 10. In the summer of 1993 windows were rebuilt and in 1995 computer cables installed. In the committee's report there was some discussion of tearing down the building and constructing an entirely new residence but because the prime minister's home had become an icon of British architecture like Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, the committee recommended that Number 10 (and Numbers 11 and 12) should be rebuilt using as much of the original materials as possible. [75] The interior would be photographed, measured, disassembled, and restored. [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. For larger gatherings, a horseshoe-shaped table is brought in that will accommodate up to 65 guests. The No. 6 Lord Street Lakes Business Park Botany, NSW 2019, Australia. Lord Frost, Chief Negotiator, said: "We have just completed our eighth round of negotiations with the EU. The modern boat-shaped top, introduced by Harold Macmillan in the late 1950s, is supported by huge original oak legs. 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. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. It was used as the dining room when Robert Walpole was prime minister. London. Official page for the office of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, based at 10 Downing Street. 10. 9 Downing Street to be converted for the new set-up, No. 10 Downing Street, the locale of British prime ministers since 1735, vies with the White House as being the most important political building anywhere in the world in the modern era. [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. "[45], Walpole lived in Number 10 until 1742. [155] (See works from the Government Art Collection currently on display at Number 10[156]), About a dozen paintings are changed annually. 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' .