FAMOUS RESIDENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22256, 2 November 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

FAMOUS RESIDENCE

HOME OF GREAT STATESMEN M NO. 10 DOWNING STREET OFFICIAL USE FOR 200 YEARS One of the most celebrated houses in Britain —No. 10 Downing Street, London —recently completed two centuries of use as an official residence. This homo of the English Prime Ministers, tho modest exterior of which never fails to surprise the foreign visitor, had Sir Robert Walpolo as its first occupant. About the year 1698 Downing Street —named after Sir Robert Downing, a former Secretary to tho Treasury was described as " a pretty open placo, especially at the upper end, where are four or fivo very large and well-built houses fit for persons of honour and quality; each liouso having a pleasant prospect into St. James' Park, with a Tarras walk."

" No. 10," as known to-day, was on part of the forfeited property of Loe, Lord Lichfield, who retired with Jamos 11., to whom he was Master of the Horse. The house thus belonged to the Crown. King George I. gave it to Baron Bothmar, tho Hanoverian Minister, for life, and, on tho baron s death, George 11. offered tho house to Sir Robert Walpolo. Sir Robert Walpolo

Sir Robert, for whom it was rebuilt, accopted it only for his office of Inrst Lord of tho Treasury, ' to which post lie got it annexed ior ever. According to a note in tho L°m Jon Daily Post of Tuesday, September 2.3, 1735': " Yesterday, the Right Hon. bir Robert Walpole, with his lady and family, removed from his house in bt. James' Square, to his new house adioining to tho Treasury in ot. James Park. A . „ Kt During tho last two centuries ISo. 10 " has passed through fifty-five different periods of tenancy. Sir Robert Walpole might still recognise his house, in spite of the inevitable alterations, The present Prime Minister's bedroom is tho chamber in which Lady Walpole died in 1738, and Sir Robert's parlour is now known as " Secretary s Room B." ✓ , , . Tho house has cost a great deal in repairs—an expense which William Pitt, who lived at " No. 10 " for seventeen years, attributed to the " bad foundations." Big Butcher's Bill Incidentally, it was during Pitt's tenancy, in 1786, that Robert Smith wrote ito Wilberforce: " The butcher's bill only is £96. Can it be possible that 38001b. of meat could he dressed in 28 days? The poulterer's, fishmonger's, and, indeed, all the bills exceed anything I could have imagined. The meat is sent in great quantities, without particulars being mentioned. On Saturday there is generally three or four hundredweight." After Karl Grey's resignation in 1834 Prime Ministers rlid not use the Downing Street house—although it was still an official residence —until 1877. Then Disrapli took possession, moving from Whitehall Gardens. Since that time the Prime Minister has always been found at " No. 10." One occupant described it as " tho most uncomfortable house in London," and until a quarter of a century ago it had no bath-room.