| Formerly: |
Hampden
House |
| Formerly: |
Kynvet
House |
| Floors: |
5 |
| Type: |
Government Building |
| Location: |
10
Downing Street |
The
modest façade of this building does not reveal the
power behind its legendary black door. This is the
home of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
It is from this place that, for hundreds of years,
power has radiated throughout the kingdom. Though
the portal appears modest, it conceals a much more
complicated building inside. Number 10 is connected
to another building, which used to be a standalone
mansion. The Downing Street location gets its name
from Sir George Downing, a civil servant who built
the street on the site of the demolished Axe Brewery.
It has been abandoned since the early 16th century.
When that building was leveled, it became a residential
zone. The earliest record of a home on the spot is
from 1581. . But the history goes back much farther
than that. In the ninth century, the area was known
as the Isle of Thorns. By the 11th century, King Canute
had a palace constructed in the area. Subsequent rulers
expanded their royal dwellings, and the area became
commonly known as the seat of government. The last
palace in this neighborhood was Whitehall, which burned
down in 1698. However, it wasn't until 1732 that King
George II designated Number 10 the official residence
of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is also the
Prime Minister. The
first Prime Minister to live here was Sir Robert Walpole;
the last private citizen to live here was a Mister
Chicken who left in 1735
-
The mail box outside reads, "First Lord of the Treasury."
Technically speaking, it is his official residence.
But since the Prime Minister is also the First Lord
of the Treasury, it is the de facto Prime Minister's
residence.
-
The
building is made of yellow bricks. These were blackened
by decades of exposure to sooty London air. They
were cleaned in the 1960's, and painted black because
the public couldn't cope with the yellow color.
-
It
is said that the front door of the building can
only be opened from the inside.
-
~1500
- The Axe Brewery is abandoned and the land redeveloped.
-
1581
- First record of a residential home in this location.
-
1698
- Whitehall Palace burns down.
-
1732
- The building is designated the official home of
the Prime Minister.
-
1732
- Number 10 is linked to a larger mansion to create
a single building.
-
1735
- Mister Chicken moves out. The first British Prime
Minister moves in.
-
1894
- Electric lights are installed.
-
~1960
- Renovated to prevent collapse. The façade was
preserved, but everything else gutted and rebuilt.
-
7 February, 1991 - The building is attacked by a
mortar launched from a nearby van by Irish terrorists.
The bomb landed in the backyard and blew out the
windows.
-
1993 - The first computer cables are installed.
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Photograph
©