"I am heart broken by the result," he said. Pt4: The Staircase[111]), In Kent's design for the enlarged Number 10, the Cabinet Room was a simple rectangular space with enormous windows. More extensive changes occur when a new Prime Minister takes office and redecorates. About half belong to the Government Art Collection. This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. You have accepted additional cookies. Many of these attractions have ticket prices attached to them for entry. FREE TOURS BY FOOT IS THE ORIGINAL PAY-WHAT-YOU-LIKE WALKING TOUR. [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. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Since 1735, it has been home to the UK's prime ministers. In March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson refurbished the residential apartment at Number 11. 10 is now on the hunt for an experienced broadcaster to host the daily press conference and be the government's voice . Regardless of this fact, a portrait of him still hangs in the entrance foyer of Number 10 Downing Street. [102], Couse also added a bow front to the small cottageformerly Mr Chicken's houseincorporated into Number 10 in Walpole's time. [14], Downing did not live in Downing Street. An Inside Look at 10 Downing Street. [131], The Terracotta Room is the middle of the three drawing rooms. Number 10 switchboard. View Company Not the person you were looking for? 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. 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. Prime Minister Tony Blair, for example, hosted a farewell reception in 2007 for his staff on the terrace. The result was a spacious mansion, lying parallel to Whitehall Palace with a view of St James Park from its garden. "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. In addition to the large carpet previously described, the Pillared State Drawing Room also contains a marble-topped table by Kent. 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. 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. [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 whole project has been a frightful waste of money because it just has not been done properly. 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. In 1879 a fire destroyed the upper floors of Number 12; it was renovated but only as a single-storey structure. [41] The name changes according to the colour it is painted. The role of Downing Street Permanent Secretary was revived, with Samantha Jones holding the position on an interim basis.[173]. The interior wood in the Cabinet Room's double columns was like sawdust. 10, Downing Street: Official Dining Room, Plate 129: No. From blossom honey to ethical coffee, a number of successful Welsh businesses came to showcase their fantastic produce. The doorbell is inscribed with "PUSH" although is rarely used in practice. Likes. There have been a few exceptions. That has changed, and now security is very tight, as one would expect for the home of a country's head of government. [158], In addition to outstanding artwork, Number 10 contains many exceptional pieces of furniture either owned by the house or on loan. From 1997 to 2019 and since 2020, the most senior special adviser post is the Downing Street chief of staff but this job title was out of use from July 2019 to November 2020 when the role was split into two positions with Dominic Cummings[165][166][167] who served as the chief adviser to the prime minister, and Edward Lister[168][169] who served as the chief strategic adviser to the prime minister. 10, Downing Street | British History Online", Plate 111: No. [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. 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. 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. As head of the Great Treasury Commission of 16671672, Albemarle transformed accounting methods and allowed the Crown greater control over expenses. From 1834 to 1877, it was either vacant or used only for offices and meetings. In 1787 Number 5 became "Number 10". 294 Following. )[58][59], A few prime ministers however did enjoy living in Number 10. Tweets. Having united the structures, Kent gutted and rebuilt the interior. Here are some tips on how to get a good glimpse of the famous black door (and perhaps famous people as well). 1 star. At the entrance, a screen of two pairs of Corinthian columns was erected (to carry the extra span of the ceiling) supporting a moulded entablature that wraps around the room. Hendrick Danckerts' painting "The Palace of Whitehall" (shown at the beginning of this article) usually hangs in the ante-room. 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. [38], The rebuilding took three years. [72], The symbol of British government, Number 10 became a gathering place for protesters. To find more go to "More details" about the price bundles. With an area in No. 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. [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. The prime minister's chair, the only one with arms, is situated midway along one side in front of the marble fireplace, facing the windows; when not in use, it is positioned at an angle for easy access. Prime Minister's Office. Situated in Downing Street in the City of Westminster, London, Number 10 is over 300 years old and contains approximately 100 rooms. 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. [47][48][49][50][51][note 1], Another reason for its unpopularity was that Number 10 was a hazardous place in which to live. During the 1990s John Major converted the first floor anteroom into a small gallery of modern art, mostly British. 100 PBX and CRM users. The fence rises above the step into a double-swirled archway, supporting an iron gas lamp surmounted by a crown. His secretary, George Downing, who built Downing Street, is thought to have created these changes. During Thatcher's premiership, terrorist threats led to the implementation of a second level of security. Originally estimated at 8,000, the final cost probably exceeded 20,000. Pt3: The Dining Room", Plate 130: No. The building itself is made up of over 100 hundred rooms only part of which is actually residential. However, some commentators have suggested that Blair's reforms have created something similar to a Prime Minister's Department. Addl. )[64], When Lord Salisbury retired in 1902, his nephew, Arthur James Balfour, became Prime Minister. 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. [56] This proved to be a gross underestimate; the final bill was over 11,000. 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. 10 is in stark contrast to the five prime ministers who have taken office in the past 12 years: David Cameron,. 9 Downing Street to be converted for the new set-up, 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. 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. 5 . SW1A 2AS. 7 reviews. There were also delays when archaeological excavations uncovered important artefacts dating from Roman, Saxon and medieval times. the locked door, symbolically and physically dividing No. Open now : 11:00 AM - 11:30 PM. Free. The same restrictions applied when No 10 staff gathered for a "bring your own booze" event in the Downing Street garden. This post covers tours of 10 Downing Street. In 1985, Margaret Thatcher said Number 10 had become "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage". 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. Of the 31 First Lords from 1735 to 1902, only 16 (including Walpole) lived in Number 10. 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. Grace. In 1974, it was suggested that permanent barriers should be erected to prevent the public from walking along the street. Prime ministers come and go, but one resident of 10 Downing Street has no plans to leave any time soon. Only a few are permanent features. This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street. [70] This picture, too, became famous especially in India. 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. [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. 4) What guidance is issued to the Downing Street Press Office, please provide documents, etc? It was an easy transition: he was already First Lord of the Treasury and he was already living in Number 10. Plans of 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street (published 1931): This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 14:14. [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. Letters patent issued in April 1736 state that: "a piece of garden ground situated in his Majesty's park of St James's, & belonging & adjoining to the house now inhabited by the Right Honourable the Chancellor of His Majesty's Exchequer, hath been lately made & fitted up at the Charge of the Crown". Lisbon )[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. New York City Large, shiny, and black and bearing 10 in large brass numbers, the door is most likely one of the most photographed in the world! [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 is now painted terracotta. There is a private residence on the third floor and a private kitchen in the basement. The arrangement became the standard practice. [115] The resulting small space, framed by the pillars, serves as an anteroom to the larger area. Downing Street apologised to Buckingham Palace after details emerged of boozy drinks parties, including one for outgoing communications director James Slack. John Logie Baird gave Ramsay MacDonald a demonstration of his invention, the television, in this room. 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. You have rejected additional cookies.