Description

TQ 3079 NW CITY OF WESTMINSTER DOWNING STREET, SW1
92/5
No. 10
14.1.70
I
G.V.

Large terraced town house. 1682 origin, built as 2 houses in
Sir George Downing's development of the street; remodelled as one
property, incorporating a large house of c.1677 to the north facing
Horseguards Parade, 1723-35 by the Office of Works (Kent, Isaac Ware and
Flitcroft all probably involved); the street front refaced (with No. 11
q.v.) c.1766-75 by Kenton Couse; major reconstruction/restoration 1960-64
by Raymond Erith. Darkened brick street front with sparse stone
dressings, slate roof. 3 storeys, basement and dormered mansard. 5
window wide astylar front. Doorway in 2nd bay from right, recessed
panelled door and fanlight in stone architrave with shaped consoles to
moulded cornice; similar disused doorway to left. Recessed glazing bar
sashes under flat gauged arches. Stone plat band below 1st floor sill
band; main stone cornice below parapet with coping. Cast iron area
railings with overthrow lampholder. The rear north premises of C.17
origin remodelled c.1723-35, are of red brick with hipped tiled roof. 2
storeys on basement and dormered attic. 7-window wide symmetrical north
front with 3-window centre break, 5-window west return. Recessed glazing
bar sashes under flat gauged arches. Although the interior has been
replanned (in conjunction with Nos. 11 and 12) and carefully
reconstructed, the principal rooms and the north staircase remain; top lit
stone stairs with substantial S pattern iron balustrade; 2 storey vaulted
kitchen of c.1723-35; Dining Room (and breakfast room) by Soane 1825-26
with typically individual shallow vault design and panelling; Drawing
Room with 2-column screen decorated in the Kent manner; Cabinet Room with
a screen of 2 richly carved Corinthian columns; fine collection of
statuary marble chimneypieces; etc. No. 10 has been the official
residence of the Prime Minister as first Lord of the Treasury since 1735.

Survey of London; Vol. XIV.
History of the King's Works; Vol. VI.

Listing NGR: TQ3004679951

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• 10 Downing Street at Wikipedia
• 10 Downing Street official website
• Wikidata Q169101

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record