10 Downing Street, often simply referred to as Number 10, stands as a potent symbol of British political power and history. For over 275 years, this unassuming terraced house in London has served as the official residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Rivaling the White House in global political significance, 10 Downing Street has been the backdrop to decisions that have shaped not only Britain but the world.
Within its walls, behind the famous black door, landmark decisions of the 20th and 21st centuries were forged. From the direction of both World Wars and the dismantling of the British Empire to the development of nuclear capabilities and responses to global economic crises, 10 Downing Street has been the crucible of modern British history. It has witnessed the tenures of some of history’s most influential figures, from Robert Walpole, considered Britain’s first Prime Minister, to titans like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
Number 10 is more than just a residence; it’s a multifaceted institution. It serves three primary roles: the private home of the Prime Minister and their family, the bustling office from which they govern, and a prestigious venue for hosting dignitaries, from monarchs like Queen Elizabeth II to US Presidents and global leaders. The Prime Minister frequently uses Number 10 to host a wide array of events, including charitable receptions and gatherings for both British and international guests.
Contrary to its modest façade, 10 Downing Street is a surprisingly expansive complex. Stepping through the iconic front door reveals a checkerboard-tiled hall leading into a labyrinthine network of rooms and staircases. Over time, the original Downing Street townhouse has been seamlessly integrated with a grander structure to its rear and expanded into neighboring buildings, including taking over a significant portion of 12 Downing Street. This interconnected complex, linked by corridors through 11 Downing Street (the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s residence), forms the heart of the British government.
A Journey Through Time: Exploring the History of 10 Downing Street
To truly understand the significance of 10 Downing Street, it’s essential to delve into its rich and layered history. The area surrounding Downing Street boasts a history stretching back millennia, predating even the construction of the current building.
The roots of Downing Street lie in a location that was significant even in ancient times. Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Norman settlements all existed in the vicinity, establishing it as a center of governance as far back as 1,000 years ago. When the Romans established Londinium (present-day London) as their capital after Julius Caesar’s initial forays into Britain in 55 BC, they chose Thorney Island – a marshy area nestled between branches of the River Tyburn – as a key site for settlement.
However, these early settlements faced challenges. The area was susceptible to disease, and poverty was widespread. A charter from King Offa of Mercia in 785 AD even described it as “the terrible place called Thorney Island.” Royal patronage was crucial in elevating the area’s prestige. King Canute established a palace there (reigned 1017-1035), and both Edward the Confessor (reigned 1042-1066) and William the Conqueror (reigned 1066-1087) maintained a royal presence. The construction of Westminster Abbey, commissioned by Edward the Confessor, solidified Westminster’s position as the center of both government and the church.
Whitehall from St James’s Park – Hendrick Danckerts c.1675. This painting depicts Whitehall Palace, near the site of present-day Downing Street, highlighting the area’s historical significance as a center of power.
Before Downing Street became synonymous with political power, the site had more humble beginnings. The earliest known structure on the land was the Axe brewery, owned by the Abbey of Abingdon during the Middle Ages. By the early 16th century, the brewery had fallen into disuse, and the area was poised for transformation.
King Henry VIII (reigned 1509-1547) played a pivotal role in enhancing Westminster’s importance. He transformed York House, seized from Cardinal Wolsey in 1530, into the sprawling Whitehall Palace. This vast royal residence, encompassing tennis courts, jousting grounds, bowling greens, and even a cockpit for bird fights, stretched from St James’s Park to the Thames. Downing Street sits on the edge of what was once this grand palace. Whitehall Palace served as the official residence of Tudor and Stuart monarchs until a devastating fire destroyed it in 1698. Its existence cemented the surrounding area, including the future site of Downing Street, as prime real estate and the natural locus of power in London.
The first private dwelling on the site of Number 10 was a substantial house leased to Sir Thomas Knyvet in 1581 by Queen Elizabeth I (reigned 1558-1603). Knyvet, a favorite of the Queen, a Member of Parliament, and a Justice of the Peace, is best remembered for his role in arresting Guy Fawkes during the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. He was knighted by King James I (reigned 1603-1625), Elizabeth’s successor, and the house was expanded during his ownership.
After Sir Thomas Knyvet and his wife passed away, the house was inherited by their niece, Elizabeth Hampden, who resided there for the next four decades. The mid-17th century was a period of intense political turmoil in England, and the Hampden family was deeply involved. Elizabeth Hampden’s son, John Hampden, became a prominent Member of Parliament who opposed King Charles I (reigned 1625-1649), and her nephew was none other than Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of England.
Hampden House, as it was then known, offered Elizabeth Hampden a front-row seat to the dramatic events of the English Civil War, the Commonwealth period, and the early years of the Restoration. The execution of King Charles I in 1649 took place on a scaffold outside Banqueting House in Whitehall, within earshot of her home. Elizabeth Hampden was still living there when King Charles II (reigned in Scotland from 1649, and in England from 1660-1685) was restored to the English throne in 1660.
An inventory of the house, taken in 1650 by Parliamentary Commissioners during the Commonwealth, provides a glimpse into its structure and features:
Built part of Bricke and part with Tymber and Flemish qalle and covered with Tyle, consistinge of a Large and spacious hall, wainscoted round, well lighted, and Paved with brick Pavements, two parls wherof one is Wainscoted round from the seelinge to ye floor, one Buttery, one seller, one Large kitchen well paved with stone and well fitted and Joynted and well fitted with dresser boards.
And above stayres in the first story one large and spacious dyneinge Roome, Wainscoted round from the seelinge to the floore, well flored, Lighted and seeled, and fitted with a faire Chimney with a foote pace of paynted Tyle in the same. Also 6 more Roomes and 3 Closetts in the same flore all well lighted and seeled. And in the second story 4 garretts…
The Downing Street Era Begins: George Downing’s Legacy
The very name “Downing Street” owes itself to Sir George Downing, a figure of considerable influence, though not necessarily universally admired. While a skilled diplomat and administrator, Downing was known for his parsimony and, at times, ruthless nature.
Despite his personal character, George Downing was instrumental in the creation of Downing Street, its namesake, and the foundation of the building we recognize today as Number 10. Downing, who had served the Commonwealth as a diplomat in The Hague, adeptly switched his allegiance with the changing political tides. By sharing strategically valuable secrets, he secured a royal pardon in March 1660 and, with the Restoration of the monarchy in May 1660, was rewarded with a knighthood.
Downing, driven by ambition and financial gain, recognized a lucrative opportunity in property development. He had acquired Crown interests in the land surrounding Hampden House but was initially unable to take possession due to existing leases held by the Knyvet family descendants. In 1682, he successfully secured these leases and commissioned the renowned architect Sir Christopher Wren to design a series of houses.
Between 1682 and 1684, the existing structures were demolished to make way for a cul-de-sac of 15 to 20 terraced houses on the north side of the newly created Downing Street. To maximize profit, the houses were constructed cheaply, with inadequate foundations for the marshy ground. Instead of using finely crafted brick façades, mortar lines were simply drawn onto the brickwork to simulate the appearance of evenly spaced bricks. Prime Minister Winston Churchill later famously described Number 10 as “shaky and lightly built by the profiteering contractor whose name they bear.”
The construction did not proceed without complaint. The Countess of Lichfield, a daughter of Charles II, lived in a grand house overlooking Horse Guards, directly adjacent to the rear of the new Downing Street terrace. She was far from pleased with the sudden appearance of this less-than-elegant row of houses behind her property and complained to her father, King Charles II. The King, in response, acknowledged her concerns, stating: “I think that it is a very reasonable thing that other houses should not look into your house without your permission, and this note will be sufficient for Mr Surveyor to build up your wall as high as you please.”
The original numbering system for the Downing Street houses was quite different from today’s familiar sequence. The numbering was haphazard, and houses were often identified by the name or title of their occupants rather than numbers. The building that is now known as Number 10 was initially designated as Number 5 and was not renumbered until 1779.
Despite its somewhat inauspicious beginnings, the Downing Street houses attracted distinguished residents. The Countess of Yarmouth resided at Number 10 from 1688 to 1689, followed by Lord Lansdowne (1692-1696) and the Earl of Grantham (1699-1703). The last private resident of this terrace was a Mr. Chicken, about whom little is known except that he moved out in the early 1730s, paving the way for Number 10’s transformation into the Prime Minister’s official residence.
A pivotal moment in Downing Street’s history occurred when King George II gifted both the Downing Street house and the adjacent house overlooking Horse Guards to Sir Robert Walpole. Walpole, holding the title of First Lord of the Treasury and effectively serving as Britain’s first Prime Minister, declined the property as a personal gift. Instead, he requested that the King designate it as the official residence for himself and all future First Lords of the Treasury. This decision established the tradition that continues to this day, and the brass letterbox on the iconic black front door still bears the inscription “First Lord of the Treasury.”
Walpole moved into Number 10 on September 22, 1735, after the Downing Street townhouse and the house overlooking Horse Guards were combined and extensively renovated. He commissioned architect William Kent, who had previously worked on Walpole’s country estate, Houghton Hall, to oversee the project. Kent connected the two houses on two stories, reorienting the main entrance to face Downing Street rather than Horse Guards. The Downing Street building became a connecting passage to the main residence. At the rear of the house, Kent created grand new rooms suitable for entertaining important guests, including a distinctive three-sided staircase that remains one of the building’s most striking architectural features.
Walpole utilized the ground floor for official business, designating the largest room on the northwest side of the house as his study – this room is now famously known as the Cabinet Room. The Walpole family resided on the first floor, in rooms facing Horse Guards Parade. Lady Walpole used what is now the White Drawing Room as her sitting room, and the current Terracotta Room served as their dining room. Number 10 quickly became a hub for both politics and social life, hosting prominent guests including Queen Caroline (George II’s wife), politicians, writers, and military leaders. It established itself as a place where political power and social influence intertwined, a role it continues to play today.
From Pelham to Pitt: Number 10 in the 18th Century
Following Walpole’s departure from Downing Street in 1742, over two decades passed before another First Lord of the Treasury took up residence. His successors, including Henry Pelham (1743-1754) and the Duke of Newcastle (1757-1762), viewed Number 10 more as an office perk than a desirable home, preferring to reside in their own private townhouses.
George Grenville (1763-1765) broke this trend, moving into Number 10 in 1763, only to be dismissed by King George III in 1765 for imposing the Stamp Act on the American colonies. Lord North (1770-1782) was the next Prime Minister to embrace Downing Street as a residence. He was particularly fond of the house and frequently entertained there. His guests included the renowned writer Samuel Johnson and Thomas Hansard, the founder of the parliamentary reporting system still in use today. One notable guest, Clive of India, was so esteemed that furniture was specially commissioned for his use, some of which remains in the first-floor anteroom and Terracotta Room to this day.
One memorable dinner party hosted by Lord North on June 7, 1780, coincided with the outbreak of the Gordon Riots, a period of civil unrest fueled by anti-Catholic sentiment. Angry Protestant mobs rioted across London, reaching Downing Street. The Grenadier Guards were deployed to protect Number 10, holding back a large crowd. A potentially violent confrontation was averted when Lord North himself went outside to warn the protestors of the danger of being shot, which led to the crowd dispersing. North’s dinner guests, meanwhile, climbed to the roof of Number 10 to witness the widespread fires burning across London.
Lord North’s tenure also saw significant improvements and additions to Number 10, contributing to its distinctive character. These included the iconic black and white checkerboard floor in the entrance hall, the lamp positioned above the front door, and the famous lion’s head door knocker – features that remain hallmarks of Number 10 today.
Following the loss of the American colonies and the end of the American Revolutionary War, Lord North resigned. His successor, the Duke of Portland, served as Prime Minister for a brief nine months in 1782, marking a period of political instability and transition at Number 10.
The 19th Century: Decline and Revival of Number 10
As the 19th century dawned, Downing Street and Number 10 had fallen into a period of decline. While Number 10 continued to function as the Prime Minister’s office, it was no longer favored as a primary residence. Most Prime Ministers of the era preferred the comfort and grandeur of their own townhouses.
However, by the 1820s, Downing Street’s importance as the center of government was undeniable. Prime Minister Viscount Goderich recognized the need to modernize and enhance Number 10 for its increasingly prominent role. He commissioned the innovative architect Sir John Soane, famous for his design of the Bank of England, to undertake renovations. Soane’s contributions included the creation of the wood-paneled State Dining Room and the Small Dining Room, designed for elegant entertaining and official functions.
Despite Soane’s efforts, his successor, the Duke of Wellington, found Number 10 lacking. He only resided there temporarily while his own lavish home, Apsley House, was being refurbished. Later Prime Ministers, such as Lord Melbourne and Viscount Palmerston, primarily used Number 10 as an office and for Cabinet meetings, further diminishing its role as a residence. In 1828, Number 11 Downing Street was officially designated as the residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, solidifying the street’s function as the heart of government.
The surrounding area of Downing Street also experienced a decline in the early 19th century, becoming increasingly seedy, with brothels and gin parlors proliferating. By 1839, the situation had deteriorated to the point where plans were considered to demolish Number 10 and the other buildings on the north side of Downing Street to make way for a redesigned Whitehall.
Security concerns also arose. In 1842, Edward Drummond, secretary to Prime Minister Robert Peel (1841-1846), was assassinated in Whitehall while returning to his Downing Street home. The assassin, mistakenly believing Drummond to be Peel, highlighted the vulnerability of Downing Street and the Prime Minister. The prestige of Downing Street was further overshadowed by the construction of the magnificent new Foreign Office building at the end of the 1860s. Designed by George Gilbert Scott, the Foreign Office, with its grand courtyard and elaborate state rooms, dwarfed the relatively modest Number 10 across the street. It even included its own Cabinet Room, which was sometimes used for Cabinet meetings instead of Number 10.
By the time Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister, Number 10 was in a state of disrepair. Disraeli described the living quarters, which had been largely unused for 30 years, as “dingy and decaying.” It was clear that modernization and significant renovations were necessary to restore Number 10 to its former glory and make it fit for purpose in the modern era.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a transformation of 10 Downing Street from a humble terraced house into a grand residence equipped with modern amenities – a home and office befitting the most powerful political figure in the country. Disraeli successfully persuaded the government to fund renovations of the entrance halls and public rooms, while he personally financed the refurbishment of the private living quarters. His own bedroom and dressing room on the first floor were improved, and a modern luxury for the time – a bath with hot and cold running water in the First Lord’s Dressing Room – was installed at a cost of £150.3s.6d.
When William Gladstone moved into Number 10 for the first time in 1880, he insisted on further redecoration, spending a substantial sum of £1,555.5s.0d on new furniture. During his occupancy in 1884, Number 10 embraced new technologies with the installation of electric lighting and the first telephones, connecting it to the rapidly modernizing world.
The Marquess of Salisbury, who succeeded Gladstone on occasion, was the last Prime Minister to decline living at Number 10. Salisbury disliked the Cabinet Room, finding it “cramped” and preferring to work in the larger Cabinet Room at the Foreign Office. He offered Number 10 to his nephew, Arthur Balfour, who would later become Prime Minister himself. Balfour holds the distinction of being the first resident of Number 10 to bring a motor car to Downing Street, marking another step into the 20th century.
Over the ensuing years, a continuous process of upgrades and improvements transformed Number 10. When Ramsay MacDonald became Prime Minister, he sought to restore some of the grandeur that Number 10 had possessed during the time of Walpole and Pitt. Noting the lack of a proper library (beyond collections of Hansard reports), MacDonald initiated the Prime Minister’s Library, initially located in the Cabinet Room. The tradition of Prime Ministers and ministers donating books to this library continues to this day, enriching its collection. Central heating was installed in 1937, and work began to convert the labyrinth of attic rooms, previously used by servants, into a private flat for the Prime Minister, further solidifying Number 10’s role as a modern residence.
Number 10 at War: Facing Global Conflicts
World War One
In the lead up to World War One, Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith faced significant political challenges, particularly concerning Irish Home Rule and opposition from the Tory party. The looming threat of civil war in Ireland was only overshadowed by the outbreak of World War One in August 1914.
During the First World War, the Cabinet Room at Number 10 became the nerve center of Britain’s war effort. Asquith’s wartime Cabinet included future Prime Ministers David Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) and Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty). Initially, Asquith also assumed the role of Secretary of State for War, but he quickly appointed Lord Kitchener to the position after the war began.
On April 15, 1916, Number 10 hosted a crucial meeting between General Haig, Commander-in-Chief of British forces in France, and the Cabinet to finalize the plans for the Somme offensive, later known as the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles in human history.
Internal Cabinet divisions emerged on May 25, 1915, fueled by public outcry over perceived shortages of shells for the army and the disastrous Gallipoli campaign. Lord Kitchener and Winston Churchill faced criticism and blame. Kitchener was stripped of control over munitions and strategy, and Churchill lost his position as First Lord of the Admiralty. As a consequence of these divisions, Asquith formed a coalition government with the opposition Conservatives, led by Andrew Bonar Law, who would also later become Prime Minister.
Asquith remained Prime Minister of the coalition until his resignation on December 5, 1916. After Andrew Bonar Law declined to form a government, David Lloyd George became Prime Minister on December 7, 1916, taking the helm of the wartime coalition.
Under Lloyd George’s leadership, the staff at Number 10 expanded significantly, and offices spilled into the garden to accommodate the increased administrative demands of managing the war effort. Lloyd George established a small, powerful ‘War Cabinet,’ including figures like Lord Curzon, Bonar Law, and Arthur Henderson. In its first 235 days, the War Cabinet met an astounding 200 times, demonstrating its intense focus on directing the war. This War Cabinet assumed total responsibility for the conflict and on three occasions convened as the Imperial War Cabinet, including Prime Ministers from the Dominions (self-governing colonies). It injected a new sense of urgency and efficiency into the war effort.
Lloyd George brought in a team of highly capable young men to gather and analyze data, bypassing slower-moving government departments. These individuals, nicknamed the ‘Garden Suburb’ because they worked in huts in the gardens near Downing Street, were not always popular with traditional civil servants whom they often circumvented. However, the ‘Garden Suburb’ provided Lloyd George with crucial, up-to-date statistics on key war-related issues, such as merchant ship losses and UK farm production – data vital for preventing national starvation and ensuring the war effort could be sustained.
When the Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918, ending the war, massive crowds gathered in Downing Street, chanting “LG” in honor of Lloyd George. The Prime Minister appeared at a first-floor window of Number 10 to acknowledge the jubilant crowds, marking a historic moment of national celebration.
World War Two – Chamberlain and Churchill
In the 1930s, the world watched with growing anxiety as tensions escalated in Europe. With rising friction between Germany and Czechoslovakia, the Prime Ministers of France and Britain sought to avert another devastating war. On September 12, 1938, thousands of people congregated in Downing Street to listen to Hitler’s speech on the final night of the Nuremberg Rally, many fearing that Britain was on the precipice of war.
As European tensions intensified, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain pursued a policy of appeasement, hoping to negotiate a peaceful resolution with Hitler. Number 10 became the focal point of intense international attention. On the morning of September 29, 1938, Chamberlain traveled to Germany for the final time as Prime Minister to meet with French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier, Hitler, and Mussolini in Munich.
The Munich Agreement was signed, seemingly averting war, at least temporarily. Before returning to England, Chamberlain secured Hitler’s signature on the now-infamous “Peace in our Time” document, a declaration that future disputes between Britain and Germany would be resolved peacefully.
Upon Chamberlain’s return to Heston Airfield in London, he was greeted by huge crowds and delivered his “Peace in Our Time” speech, waving the signed document. Returning to Downing Street after meeting with King George VI, Chamberlain found Downing Street and Number 10 packed with cheering people. He repeated the speech from a first-floor window of Number 10:
My good friends, this is the second time there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now I recommend you go home, and sleep quietly in your beds.
However, the fragile peace did not last. Over the next 12 months, tensions remained high, and on September 3, 1939, Chamberlain broadcast to the nation from the Cabinet Room at Number 10, announcing that Britain was now at war with Germany, plunging the world into World War Two. Chamberlain resigned as Prime Minister on May 10, 1940, and advised King George VI to invite Winston Churchill to form a new government to lead Britain through the war.
When Winston Churchill became Prime Minister, he and his wife moved into the second-floor flat at Downing Street. Churchill often conducted much of his work from this residence, dictating speeches, memos, and letters to his secretary while in bed, often with his signature cigar in hand.
The intense German bombing campaign known as the Blitz began in October 1940. On October 14, a large bomb struck Treasury Green near Downing Street, causing significant damage to the Number 10 kitchen and state rooms and tragically killing three civil servants who were on Home Guard duty. Churchill was dining in the Garden Rooms when the air raid began. He recounted the event in his memoir Their Finest Hour (1949):
We were dining in the garden-room of Number 10 when the usual night raid began. The steel shutters had been closed. Several loud explosions occurred around us at no great distance, and presently a bomb fell, perhaps a hundred yards away, on the Horse Guards Parade, making a great deal of noise.
Suddenly I had a providential impulse. The kitchen in Number 10 Downing Street is lofty and spacious, and looks out through a large plate-glass window about 25 feet high. The butler and parlour maid continued to serve the dinner with complete detachment, but I became acutely aware of this big window. I got up abruptly, went into the kitchen, told the butler to put the dinner on the hot plate in the dining-room, and ordered the cook and the other servants into the shelter, such as it was.
I had been seated again at the table only about 3 minutes when a really loud crash, close at hand, and a violent shock showed that the house had been struck. My detective came into the room and said much damage had been done. The kitchen, the pantry and the offices on the Treasury were shattered.
Ensuring the safety of Downing Street became a top priority for the Prime Minister and the War Cabinet. Steel reinforcements were added to the Garden Rooms, and heavy metal shutters were installed over windows to protect against bombing raids. The Garden Rooms, including a small dining room, bedroom, and meeting area, became Churchill’s primary working space throughout the war. However, the steel reinforcements would not have provided protection against a direct bomb hit.
In October 1939, the Cabinet had already relocated from Number 10 to secret underground war rooms in the basement of the Office of Works opposite the Foreign Office, now known as the Churchill War Rooms. Following further near misses from bombs in 1940, Churchill and his wife moved out of Downing Street and into the Number 10 Annex above the war rooms. Furniture and valuables were removed from Number 10, and only the Garden Rooms, Cabinet Room, and Private Secretaries’ office remained in regular use.
Despite disliking living in the Annex, Churchill continued to use Number 10 for work and meals. A reinforced shelter was constructed under the house, capable of accommodating up to six people, for use by those working at Number 10. Even King George VI sought shelter there when dining with Churchill in the Garden Rooms. Although bombs caused further damage to Number 10 during the war, the house avoided direct hits, allowing Churchill to continue working and eating there until the war’s end.
Immediately after the war concluded, Churchill and his wife returned to Number 10. It was from the Cabinet Room at 3 pm on May 8, 1945, that Churchill delivered his historic Victory in Europe (VE) Day broadcast, marking the end of the war in Europe.
Falklands Conflict – Margaret Thatcher
Decades later, in 1982, Number 10 once again became the center of national crisis during the Falklands Conflict. On March 19, 1982, Argentinian flags were raised on South Georgia, a British overseas territory, by a group of scrap metal merchants. This act was seen as a prelude to a larger Argentinian claim over the Falkland Islands, sparking a major international crisis.
Argentine General Leopoldo Galtieri ordered the invasion of the Falkland Islands to commence on April 2, 1982, preempting any potential British military buildup in the region. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher responded decisively, dispatching a naval task force to recapture the islands. The task force set sail from Portsmouth on April 5, following a Cabinet meeting and the passage of a UN Resolution.
Throughout the 74 days of the Falklands conflict, Margaret Thatcher remained in the Downing Street flat, virtually without sleep. Her personal assistant, Cynthia Crawford, who stayed with Thatcher in the flat, recounted the intense atmosphere within Number 10:
She did not once change into her nightclothes in the flat for the duration of the war. We would sit in the flat listening to the BBC World Service for news of the task force. She couldn’t sleep because she wanted to be ready in case anything happened.
She wanted to be able to go to any briefings with the naval commanders at any time without the fuss and bother of having to get dressed. She also wanted to know everything that was happening, every single detail, so she could keep on top of events. She had to know how the soldiers, sailors and airmen were getting on.
She was so worried about them. It was awful when we heard any reports of our ships being hit. Her determination and powers of endurance were unbelievable. Denis was in the room next door. The 2 of us would sit in armchairs either side of a two-bar electric fire, listening to the radio.
Crawford described Thatcher’s routine of leaving Downing Street each morning at 8 am for military briefings, returning later to continue working. The conflict concluded with Argentina’s surrender on June 14, 1982. Reflecting on this period, Margaret Thatcher wrote:
When I became Prime Minister I never thought that I would have to order British troops into combat and I do not think I have ever lived so tensely or intensely as during the whole of that time.
Margaret Thatcher – The Downing Street Years.
Restoration and Modernization in the Late 20th and 21st Centuries
By the 1950s, the physical condition of 10 Downing Street had reached a critical point. Bomb damage from World War Two exacerbated existing structural problems. The building was suffering from subsidence, sloping walls, twisted door frames, and escalating repair costs.
A survey conducted by the Ministry of Works in 1954 revealed the dire state of the structure. The report circulated through successive Prime Ministers – Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, and Harold Macmillan – as each grappled with the issue. Finally, a committee established by Macmillan concluded that urgent and drastic action was necessary to prevent the building from collapsing or succumbing to fire.
The committee considered various options, including the complete demolition of Numbers 10, 11, and 12 and the construction of a new building. This idea was rejected in favor of rebuilding Number 12 and undertaking extensive strengthening and preservation work on Numbers 10 and 11, while maintaining their historic features.
Architect Raymond Erith was chosen to oversee the project, initially estimated to take two years and cost £500,000. The renovations ultimately lasted three years and doubled the original budget. The foundations were found to be in such poor condition that extensive concrete underpinning was required.
Number 10 was essentially gutted during the renovations. Walls, floors, and even the columns in the Cabinet Room and Pillared Room were found to be rotten and had to be replaced. New additions included a room facing Downing Street and a veranda at Number 11 for the Chancellor.
A surprising discovery during the renovation was that the iconic exterior façade was not actually black, but yellow brick. The black appearance was the result of two centuries of accumulated pollution. To maintain the familiar look, the newly cleaned yellow bricks were painted black to match their previous soot-stained color. Erith’s renovations were completed in 1963, but dry rot soon emerged, necessitating further repairs.
Margaret Thatcher again commissioned renovations in the late 1980s, appointing architect Quinlan Terry to refurbish the state drawing rooms. The White Drawing Room and Terracotta Room received ornate plasterwork ceilings, including the addition of national emblems representing England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in the White Drawing Room.
In 1991, the extensive renovations were nearly undone when a terrorist bomb exploded in the garden of Number 10. An IRA mortar bomb, launched from a white transit van in Whitehall, detonated just meters from where Prime Minister John Major was chairing a Cabinet meeting on the Gulf War. While no one was killed, the explosion created a crater in the garden and shattered windows in surrounding buildings. John Major and some staff temporarily relocated to Admiralty Arch while bomb damage repairs were undertaken.
By 2006, it became evident that the Downing Street complex was struggling to meet the demands of the modern Prime Minister’s Office. Independent surveys revealed that the buildings were no longer weatherproof, the heating system was failing, and the ICT network was reaching its operational limits. Frequent power outages and water leaks were disrupting the day-to-day operations of the Prime Minister’s Office.
In addition to age-related deterioration, the buildings were under increasing strain due to a significant rise in occupancy, from a stable number of around 50 for many years to approximately 170. In 2006, Prime Minister Tony Blair authorized a new program of improvements, designed to address structural failures, renew infrastructure, improve accessibility, and enhance the building’s sustainability, all while maintaining continuous operations.
Structural issues were prioritized, and a phased exterior repair project was initiated to address failing guttering, cracked brickwork, and other structural problems. The distinctive black colorwash was also renewed. During these works, the façade of 11 Downing Street was found to be unstable and had to be secured using 225 stainless steel pins. All work was conducted in consultation with English Heritage.
Further projects focused on renewing the building’s aging infrastructure, replacing heating, fire protection, and electrical power distribution systems. Sustainability became a key focus, with a 10% reduction in carbon emissions achieved by 2011. Rainwater harvesting was introduced in 2009 to provide a sustainable water source for the garden. Accessibility for disabled visitors was significantly improved through ramps and lift modernization. Many public areas, including the front entrance hall, state and small dining rooms, and the study, were also restored.
An ongoing program remains in place to upgrade facilities to modern standards and ensure the preservation of this historic building for generations to come.
A Place of Entertainment and Diplomacy
Beyond its role as a residence and office, Number 10 is a significant venue for official functions. Each week, it hosts meetings, receptions, lunches, and dinners. These events are not limited to heads of state and foreign dignitaries; Number 10 welcomes people from all sectors of UK society, including notable achievers, public service employees, and charity workers.
Receptions at Number 10 are typically informal gatherings, while lunches and dinners are more formal affairs. The Small Dining Room can accommodate up to 12 guests, and the State Dining Room can seat up to 65 around a large U-shaped table. Dining tables are set with pieces from the state silver collection, including modern silverware commissioned by the Silver Trust to promote contemporary British craftsmanship.
Installations at Number 10: A Timeline of Technological Advancement
Since becoming the official residence of the Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street has served as both a home and a workplace. Throughout its history, Number 10 has been continually upgraded, incorporating new technologies to ensure both a reasonable standard of living for its residents and to keep the Prime Minister at the forefront of government decision-making. Often, the arrival of a new Prime Minister has spurred technological upgrades.
Here is a timeline highlighting notable technological developments at Number 10 over three centuries:
Timeline
1877 – Hot and cold running water installed as part of renovations for Benjamin Disraeli, including the addition of a bath.
1894 – Installation of electric lighting and the first telephones, overseen by William Gladstone after Disraeli’s departure.
1902 – The first motor car driven onto Downing Street by Arthur Balfour. Since then, Prime Ministers have favored British car brands for their official vehicles, including Wolseleys, Humbers, Rovers, Daimlers, and Jaguars.
1937 – First central heating system installed.
1963 – Electrical and telephone systems replaced during a major building renovation.
1982 – The first direct hotline between Number 10 and Washington D.C. established during Margaret Thatcher’s first term.
1982 – First ‘micro-computer’ and microfilm reader installed.
1983 – Wider adoption of computer machines for Number 10 staff following a needs assessment.
1990s – First video conference conducted from John Major’s study.
1996 – Desktop PCs installed at all workstations.
1996 – Launch of the first Number 10 website (http://web.archive.org/web/19970416130757/http://number-10.gov.uk/).
1998 – Internet access became standard across Number 10 staff desktops.
2002 – Dedicated video conferencing suite installed, prompted by the 9/11 attacks, to facilitate instant face-to-face communication with global counterparts.
2005 – New email account launched, enabling the public to directly contact the Prime Minister.
2008 – Number 10’s own online TV station, Number10 TV, launched.
2008 – Number 10’s first tweet, marking the beginning of its social media presence, with over 3,000 tweets since.
Larry, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office: A Modern Resident
Larry, the cat, has been a resident of 10 Downing Street since February 15, 2011. He holds the official title of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, the first cat to be bestowed with this honor.
Larry the cat, the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, pictured in a Number 10 meeting room. Larry’s presence adds a touch of warmth and modern character to the historic building.
Larry was recruited from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, recommended for his mousing skills. He has become a beloved member of the Number 10 household and a popular figure in British public life. He has captured the hearts of the British public and the press corps frequently stationed outside Number 10’s front door. The nation regularly sends him gifts and treats.
Larry spends his days greeting visitors, inspecting security measures, and testing the comfort of antique furniture for naps. His official duties also include addressing the house’s mouse population, a task he humorously describes as being in the “tactical planning stage.” Larry’s presence adds a touch of contemporary charm to the historic legacy of 10 Downing Street, further cementing its place in the public imagination.
