[37] This small house and the mansion at the back were then incorporated into Number 10. That has changed, and now security is very tight, as one would expect for the home of a country's head of government. [14], Downing did not live in Downing Street. The White State Drawing Room contains examples of Adam furniture. [4], 10 Downing Street is Government property. Get Niall Patrick's email address (n*****@number10.gov.uk) and phone number at RocketReach. 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. 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. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. The terrace, extending across the back, provides a full view of St James's Park. 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. Unlimited calls to the US and Canada with additional call minutes to 20 other countries within one bundle. Pt3: The Dining Room", Plate 130: No. Miami 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. The zero of the number "10" is painted in a very eccentric style, in a 37 angle anticlockwise. He has now seen two PMs come and go. Phone number (604) 536-3353. 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 . Speaking outside Downing Street, he said he had secured an "incredible mandate" in the 2019 general election, winning "the biggest Conservative majority since 1987". From 1834 to 1877, it was either vacant or used only for offices and meetings. [33], When Count Bothmer died, ownership of the "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown. In 1879 a fire destroyed the upper floors of Number 12; it was renovated but only as a single-storey structure. 3) What is the phone number of the Downing Street Press Office? [115] The resulting small space, framed by the pillars, serves as an anteroom to the larger area. [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. Lisbon [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. It was used as the dining room when Robert Walpole was prime minister. [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. I had called them asking if they could add a toner to my hair over the phone . Having united the structures, Kent gutted and rebuilt the interior. 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. The upper floors were modernised and the third floor extended over Numbers 11 and 12 to allow more living space. The previous year, Knevett had moved into a house next door, approximately where Number 10 is today. 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. [84][85], Although the reconstruction was generally considered an architectural triumph, Erith was disappointed. 10 Downing Street, London number10.gov.uk Joined March 2008. [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. In addition to the large carpet previously described, the Pillared State Drawing Room also contains a marble-topped table by Kent. [157] These redecorations may reflect both individual taste as well as make a political statement. (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. (See the State Dining room with the Silver Trust Silver in use for a luncheon[135]) Above the fireplace, overlooking the room, is a massive portrait by John Shackleton of George II, the king who originally gave the building to the First Lord of the Treasury in 1732. Probably not completed until 1796,[114] this alteration was achieved by removing the east wall and rebuilding it several feet inside the adjoining secretaries' room. With a wrought iron balustrade, embellished with a scroll design, and mahogany handrail, it rises from the garden floor to the third floor. 10 Downing Street is the official residence and the office of the British Prime Minister. With or without the prime minister present, visitors had their picture taken. 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". Should you want to visit this historic street to get a glimpse of the iconic black door of No. 3 stars. 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. Two years later in 1690, William III and Mary II gave the "House at the Back" to Hendrik van Nassau-Ouwerkerk, a Dutch general who had assisted in securing the Crown for the Prince of Orange. Originally estimated at 8,000, the final cost probably exceeded 20,000. 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. He insisted that the Treasury should bear the cost of furnishings at least in the public areas. 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. San Francisco A similar number are employed in the equivalent operation in the Cabinet . 10 Downing Street Bhopal. [56] In 1783 the Duke of Portland moved out because it was once again in need of repair. Kent's staircase is the first architectural feature visitors see as they enter Number 10. Culture: Bent, 286] ; 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 . Well send you a link to a feedback form. But, there are a few ways that you can see what the inside looks like, and also potentially glimpse the PM or cabinet members coming or going. Clickhere to get exact directions from your point of departure. Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, Windsor Framework unveiled to fix problems of the Northern Ireland Protocol, PM speech on the Windsor Framework: February 2023, Exclusive interviews with former cabinet secretaries, Listen to Number 10 staff talk about their work, Prime Minister's and Cabinet Office ministers' transparency publications, PM statement to the House of Commons: 27 Feb 2023. The introduction of films and television would strengthen this association. Walpole commissioned William Kent to join the three houses and it is this larger house that is known as Number 10 Downing Street. Various political advisers have in the past acted in a press . 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. Most were actually built rather cheaply and were not of good quality still the case when Winston Churchill resided at Number 10 and he is quoted as saying his house was shaky and lightly built by the profiteering contractor whose name that bear.. 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. John Major announced his 1997 resignation as leader of the Conservative Party in the garden. You have accepted additional cookies. These rooms are all in constant usage - Foreign dignitaries are entertained here and the Prime Minister and his government base the majority of their work at Number 10. The huge . [125], With its flat unadorned ceiling, simple mouldings and deep window seats, the Small Dining Room is intimate and comfortable. An American simply by accident of birth, Margaret moved to London over 16 years ago and hasnt looked back since! [19][20], From that time, the "House at the Back" was usually occupied by members of the royal family or the government. 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". [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. Most lent it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, others to lesser officials or to friends and relatives. Share. "These were useful exchanges. [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. [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". "[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. [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. They are rearranged slightly to make room for a photograph of each new Prime Minister. [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. The Press Secretary works within the Prime Minister's Office and the Downing Street Press Office.. History. If you are not a member of the media, please use the public correspondence contact form. The staircase had sunk several inches; some steps were buckled and the balustrade was out of alignment. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street Published 14 January 2023 The Prime Minister spoke to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy today. The majority of the UK's Prime Ministers, dating back to the very first, (Robert Walpole in 1720) have called Number 10 home. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Pt4: The Staircase[111]), In Kent's design for the enlarged Number 10, the Cabinet Room was a simple rectangular space with enormous windows. [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. The main section had no visible supports. Although Bothmer complained about "the ruinous Condition of the Premises",[32] he lived there until his death in 1732. [74], By the middle of the 20th century, Number 10 was falling apart again. Please note, if you have a media query concerning the Prime Minister or media access to. Greater transparency across government is at the heart of our commitment to let you hold politicians and public bodies to account. Measuring 42 by 26 feet (12.8 by 7.9m), it is the largest room in Number 10. (See the three state drawing rooms. [133], The White State Drawing room was, until the 1940s, used by Prime Ministers and their partners for their private use. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. The contact . . 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. 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? Lord North certainly occupied it during the two years he was Chancellor of the Exchequer only. 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. Number 10 switchboard. London 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 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' . Find some more ideas, read our post onwhat to see in Royal London. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. For obvious safety reasons, the public is not allowed to walk on Downing Street, let alone go into the residence of the Prime Minister (PM). As part of the renovations begun in 1783, it was extended, giving the space its modern appearance. Lister served as acting chief of staff, but was replaced by Dan Rosenfield, who officially assumed the role in January 2021. Number 10 media team, 10 September 2020 - Uncategorized. 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. [137][138][139] (See Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. Carved into the plasterwork above the door leading to the Pillared Room is a tribute to Margaret Thatcher: a straw-carrying 'thatcher'. Only a few are permanent features. This structure can be seen today as the rear section of Number 10. 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. (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. [72], The symbol of British government, Number 10 became a gathering place for protesters. There is a private residence on the third floor and a private kitchen in the basement. My head has no protection other than this porchway. 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. [40] Seldom seen by anyone other than staff, the space is two storeys high with a huge arched window and vaulted ceiling. Prime Minister Tony Blair, for example, hosted a farewell reception in 2007 for his staff on the terrace. [155] (See works from the Government Art Collection currently on display at Number 10[156]), About a dozen paintings are changed annually. Extensive reconstruction again had to be undertaken in the late 1960s to resolve these problems. The Treasury issued an order "for repairing and fitting it up in the best and most substantial manner" at a cost of 2,522. The Hampden family had a lease on the land that they refused to relinquish. "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. 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. 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. [94] (See The Entrance Door c1930: As seen from inside showing the black and white marble floor and the door providing access to Number 11)[103][104], When William Kent rebuilt the interior between 1732 and 1734, his craftsmen created a stone triple staircase. [162], That same year, the Leisure Circle published Christopher Jones' book No. London. [24], The "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown when Lady Overkirk died in 1720. New York City "Under (Prime Minister) Blair . Soane was the guest of honour when the dining room was first used on 4 April 1826. Over the years, the addresses changed several times. SW1A 2AS. In 1974, it was suggested that permanent barriers should be erected to prevent the public from walking along the street. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Terry also added an ornate gilded ceiling to give the rooms a more stately look. The front door to Number 10 is most likely the most famous feature of the building. The staircase, however, was rebuilt and simplified. 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. [125], In the restoration conducted in the late 1980s, Quinlan Terry restored the fireplace. You have accepted additional cookies. 10, Downing Street: elevation and general view, "PM's aide Cummings calls for civil service changes", "One big appointment coming today - Dominic Cummings expected to be senior advisor to the new PM - Vote Leave chief moving into govt - huge brain and experienced in govt, and will be applauded by Brexiteers - highly controversial too", "Johnson adviser's housing role highlights lack of transparency", "Sir Edward Lister resigns as Homes England Chair", "Boris Johnson appoints new chief of staff after Cummings exit", "Boris Johnson picks No 10 official to be head of UK civil service". That the First Lord of the Treasury occupies it if he thinks proper. [34], Walpole did not accept the gift for himself. The garden is dominated by a half-acre (0.2 ha) open lawn which wraps around Numbers 10 and 11 in an L-shape. About half belong to the Government Art Collection. Contact: Prime Minister's Office enquiries. Accessed through the first floor, its vaulted, arched ceiling rises up through the next so that it actually occupies two floors. In 1985, Margaret Thatcher said Number 10 had become "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage". [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. 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. [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. 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. The table is surrounded by carved, solid mahogany chairs that also date from the Gladstone era. 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. [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. Any original materials that were beyond repair such as the pair of double columns in the Cabinet Room would be replicated in detail. Due to bomb damage in 1940, the Treasury relocated to the Government Offices Great George Street. Here are some tips on how to get a good glimpse of the famous black door (and perhaps famous people as well). 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. The headquarters of His Majesty's Government, it is situated on Downing Street in the City of Westminster in London, England. Review. The Cabinet table, purchased during the Gladstone era, dominates the room. 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. [136] Celebrity chefs such as Nigella Lawson have cooked for Prime Ministers' guests using the small kitchen next door. The building also hosts foreign dignitaries, national leaders, and government ministers. Paris [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the . One theory is that this is in fact a capital 'O' as found in the Roman's Trajan alphabet that was used by the Ministry of Works at the time. (4) To see any comings and goings of the PM and other government members, Thursday morning is the best time, as this is when the PM and Cabinet meeting. In 1997, the building was remodelled to provide extra space for the prime minister's greatly increased staff. Get 5 free searches. . 8,439 talking about this. Prime Ministers made historic announcements from the front step. Tubs of flowers line the steps from the terrace; around the walls are rose beds with flowering and evergreen shrubs. Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister in October 2022. Media. 10 Downing Street, they have in their charge one of the most precious jewels in the nation's heritage". [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". On these occasions, the table is set with the Silver Trust Silver set given to Downing Street in the 1990s. 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. 1 star. 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". This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. 7 reviews. 2. 10, Downing Street: breakfast room and smaller drawing room, Plate 117: No. 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. $2 / month. [129][104][130] After the Apollo 11 lunar landing in July 1969, Harold Wilson hosted a reception in the room for astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, in addition to Cambridge scientist Francis Thomas Bacon, inventor of the alkaline fuel cell used to generate power for space capsules. Public Enquiries: Online Contact Form. 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. Most are included in a number of tourist attraction discount passes available to you in London. the British government; refers to location of Prime Minister's residence [Br. [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). 10 Downing Street is the official residence and the office of the British Prime Minister. Situated in Downing Street in the City of Westminster, London, Number 10 is over 300 years old and contains approximately 100 rooms. 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. [154], Number 10 is filled with fine paintings, sculptures, busts and furniture. The freedom fighters could see their leader had been received in the prime minister's home. Lastly, Google made this crystal-clear 360-degree virtual tour of some of the rooms in 10 Downing Street. 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. However, a number of challenging areas remain . Plans of 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street (published 1931): This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 14:14. [41] The name changes according to the colour it is painted. )[58][59], A few prime ministers however did enjoy living in Number 10. Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. [87], Erith's concerns proved justified. Balfour revived the custom that Number 10 is the First Lord and Prime Minister's official residence. He had the Government Art Collection loan pieces. Painted off-white with large floor to ceiling windows along one of the long walls, the room is light and airy. [82], The new foundation was made of steel-reinforced concrete with pilings sunk 6 to 18 feet (1.8 to 5.5m). Tweets. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. Today, the closest visitors can get is standing on the edge of the street to peer through the permanent black metal gates. To reach 10 Downing Street by tube, it's best to reach it by either the Westminster or Charing Cross Station. [97][98][99], After the IRA mortar attack in 1991, the original black oak door was replaced by a blast-proof steel one. Winston Churchill wrote that Number 10 was "shaky and lightly built by the profiteering contractor whose name they bear". [23], After Buckingham retired in 1676, Lady Charlotte Fitzroy, Charles II's daughter, moved in when she married Edward Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield. 6M Followers. During Thatcher's premiership, terrorist threats led to the implementation of a second level of security. 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 . 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. For larger gatherings, a horseshoe-shaped table is brought in that will accommodate up to 65 guests. Jones, in letter from Margaret Thatcher used as a preface to the book. Dry rot was widespread throughout. [91], The current tenant of 10 Downing Street is Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. D B City mall, 3rd floor Maharana Pratap Nagar, Bhopal 462004 India +91 81096 43000 + Add website. 100 PBX and CRM users. 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. Kent's door was modest, belying the spacious elegance beyond. 9750 Clark Street, Montreal 514-271-7776. You can take bus#11 or ahop-on, hop-off tour bus, both of which pass by frequently. Lastly, Google made this crystal-clear 360-degree virtual tour of some of the rooms in 10 Downing Street. [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. Get Directions. 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).