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The town house, from which the modern building gets its name, was one of several built by Sir George Downing between 16.ĭowning, a notorious spy for Oliver Cromwell and later Charles II, invested in property and acquired considerable wealth. 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. History of the building Original Number 10 6.1 Current positions within the Office of the Prime Minister.1.3 First politician and "head of government" in the house.1.2 History of the "House at the Back" before 1733.In 1985, Margaret Thatcher said Number 10 had become "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage".
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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. Walpole commissioned William Kent to join the three houses and it is this larger house that is known as Number 10 Downing Street.ĭespite its size and convenient location near to Parliament, few early prime ministers lived at 10 Downing Street. The post of First Lord of the Treasury has, for much of the 18th and 19th centuries and invariably since 1905, been held by the prime minister. Walpole accepted on the condition that the gift was to the office of First Lord of the Treasury. Originally three houses, Number 10 was offered to Sir Robert Walpole by King George II in 1732. Adjacent to St James's Park, Number 10 is approximately 1.2 km from Buckingham Palace, the London residence of the British Monarch, and near the Palace of Westminster, the meeting place of both Houses of Parliament. At the rear is an interior courtyard and a terrace overlooking a 2,000 m 2 garden. 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 private residence for the prime minister's use occupies the third floor and there is a kitchen in the basement. Situated in Downing Street in the City of Westminster, London, Number 10 is over 300 years old and contains approximately 100 rooms. Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. info)) 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 also the prime minister.