![]() Downing fought their claim, but failed and had to wait 30 years before he could build. The Hampden family had a lease on the land that they refused to relinquish. Straightforward as the investment seemed, it proved otherwise. 1675–1690 by Thomas Smith, The Fogg Museum Downing planned to build a row of terraced town houses "for persons of good quality to inhabit in ." The street on which he built them now bears his name, and the largest became part of Number 10 Downing Street. 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 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 Its registered legal title is held in the name of the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities (the secretary of state is a corporation sole). ġ0 Downing Street is Government property. In 1985, Margaret Thatcher said Number 10 had become "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage". 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 Robert Walpole by King George II in 1732. Adjacent to St James's Park, Number 10 is approximately 3⁄ 4 mile (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 1⁄ 2 acre (0.2 ha) 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 occupies the third floor and there is a kitchen in the basement. It is over 300 years old and contains approximately 100 rooms. Ĭolloquially known as Number 10, the building is in Downing Street in the City of Westminster, London. 10 Downing Street in London is the official residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
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