One of the largest rooms was a study measuring forty feet by twenty with enormous windows overlooking St James's Park. The Downing Street press office has a staff of about 12, although closer to 40 work in the communications team as a whole. [123]), The largest is the Pillared Room thought to have been created in 1796 by Taylor. 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. Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. When Margaret Thatcher arrived in 1979 she insisted that the artwork had to be British and that it celebrate "British achievers". The staircase had sunk several inches; some steps were buckled and the balustrade was out of alignment. However, a number of challenging areas remain . 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 Treasury issued an order "for repairing and fitting it up in the best and most substantial manner" at a cost of 2,522. A committee found that the money spent so far was insufficient. Culture: Bent, 286] He left as soon as it was finished. the locked door, symbolically and physically dividing No. International agreements have been signed in this room. [24], The "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown when Lady Overkirk died in 1720. To its left is a long case clock by Benson of Whitehaven. The town house, from which the modern building gets its name, was one of several built by George Downing between 1682 and 1684. Number 10 represents an apartment building that is over 300 years old and has 100 rooms. 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. 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. 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. A similar number are employed in the equivalent operation in the Cabinet . 10 Downing Street is located in Downing Street, City of Westminster, London. [33], When Count Bothmer died, ownership of the "House at the Back" reverted to the Crown. New Orleans [34], Walpole did not accept the gift for himself. 10 Political Office (party political liaison and constituency affairs). 10, Downing Street: Official Dining Room, Plate 131: No. The role of Downing Street Permanent Secretary was revived, with Samantha Jones holding the position on an interim basis.[173]. About half belong to the Government Art Collection. The contact . He insisted that the Treasury should bear the cost of furnishings at least in the public areas. He had the Government Art Collection loan pieces. )[58][59], A few prime ministers however did enjoy living in Number 10. Behind its. We covered all issues in some detail, including the most difficult ones. 10, Downing Street | British History Online", Plate 111: No. [38], The rebuilding took three years. [125], In the restoration conducted in the late 1980s, Quinlan Terry restored the fireplace. [102], Couse also added a bow front to the small cottageformerly Mr Chicken's houseincorporated into Number 10 in Walpole's time. 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. You can change your cookie settings at any time. [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. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street Published 14 January 2023 The Prime Minister spoke to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy today. The huge . [133], The White State Drawing room was, until the 1940s, used by Prime Ministers and their partners for their private use. And praying a Warrant for the said sum of 5,580and also praying an Imprest of that sum to enable them to pay the Workmen". In 1924 when Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald took office, he did not own nor have the means to buy an extensive art collection. The Press Secretary works within the Prime Minister's Office and the Downing Street Press Office.. History. The terrace, extending across the back, provides a full view of St James's Park. Painted off-white with large floor to ceiling windows along one of the long walls, the room is light and airy. ; 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 . [2] Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. The No. "[45], Walpole lived in Number 10 until 1742. . [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. In the summer of 1993 windows were rebuilt and in 1995 computer cables installed. Hendrick Danckerts' painting "The Palace of Whitehall" (shown at the beginning of this article) usually hangs in the ante-room. A few prime ministers, such as Tony Blair, occasionally worked at the Cabinet Room table. Originally estimated at 8,000, the final cost probably exceeded 20,000. (See the three state drawing rooms. . [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. Lister served as acting chief of staff, but was replaced by Dan Rosenfield, who officially assumed the role in January 2021. [146], Above Taylor's vaulted kitchen, between the Pillared Room and the State Dining room, Soane created a Smaller Dining Room (sometimes called the Breakfast Room) that still exists. 9. 10, Downing Street: Official Dining Room, Plate 129: No. To preserve the 'traditional' look of recent times, the newly cleaned yellow bricks were painted black to resemble their well-known appearance. Tweets & replies. "I am heart broken by the result," he said. Albemarle is the first treasury minister to have lived in what became the home of the First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister. The leaders reflected on the current state of Russia's. [40] Seldom seen by anyone other than staff, the space is two storeys high with a huge arched window and vaulted ceiling. Get Niall Patrick's email address (n*****@number10.gov.uk) and phone number at RocketReach. Stanley Baldwin used the Cabinet Room as his office. 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. Press office: responsible for relations with the media, Research and information unit: provides factual information to No. [88] Further extensive repairs and remodelling, commissioned by Margaret Thatcher, were completed in the 1980s under the direction of Erith's associate, Quinlan Terry. 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. [162], That same year, the Leisure Circle published Christopher Jones' book No. [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). The front door to Number 10 is most likely the most famous feature of the building. Walpole commissioned William Kent to join the three houses and it is this larger house that is known as Number 10 Downing Street. [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. If you are a journalist with a press enquiry or interview request, please email our press office. The interior wood in the Cabinet Room's double columns was like sawdust. The small, six-panelled door, originally made of black oak, is surrounded by cream-coloured casing and adorned with a semicircular fanlight window. [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. The room therefore has a unique architectural feature: over the fireplace there is a window instead of the usual chimney breast. The work included: "The Back passage into Downing street to be repaired and a new door; a New Necessary House to be made; To take down the Useless passage formerly made for the Maids of Honour to go into Downing Street, when the Queen lived at the Cockpit; To New Cast a great Lead Cistern & pipes and to lay the Water into the house & a new frame for ye Cistern". [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. [160], In 1985, Number 10 was 250 years old. 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. 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. 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. Fredrick Robinson, Lord Goderich took a special liking to the house in the late 1820s and spent state funds lavishly remodelling the interior. original source. Media. Dubai 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". He complained openly during and after the project that the government had altered his design to save money. There are plenty of other significant London sites within walking distance of Downing Street. [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. [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. Henry Pelham, for example, had his own spacious home and had no need for Number 10. 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. Lastly, Google made this crystal-clear 360-degree virtual tour of some of the rooms in 10 Downing Street. In 1974, it was suggested that permanent barriers should be erected to prevent the public from walking along the street. With an area in No. Walpole would live there as the incumbent First Lord, but would vacate it for the next one. Speaking outside Downing Street, he said he had secured an "incredible mandate" in the 2019 general election, winning "the biggest Conservative majority since 1987". Lord Frost, Chief Negotiator, said: "We have just completed our eighth round of negotiations with the EU. 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.