Story of a Famous House, No. 10, Downing Street

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19106, 29 August 1936, Page 9

Story of a Famous House, No. 10, Downing Street

10, Downing .Street, is one of the most famous buildings in the world, because for some 200 years it has been the home of the British Prime Minister. In a volume entitled “No. 10, Downing Street,” Basil Fuller and John Comes write of its use long before it became (he official Parliamentary residence, and then later they detail the changes which have been made in the structure and also record incidents in the careers of the men who have lived within its walls.

There is one feature of this history of No. 10, Downing Htyeet .which will intrigue the general reader. It. throws light on the domestic problem of furniture which must face each occupant. The authors write:

“The furniture of Xo. 10, as supplied by the Office of Works, is ample and solid. 'though okl-fashioned, most of this furniture Is comfortable; but as exception to this general rule is the large bed supplied for the Prime Minister.

They Take Their Own Beds. “Lord .Rosebery is said to have, grumbled about the discomfort of this official bed, and even to have attributed to it; the insomnia from which he suffered during and after his term of office. And since his time standards of nocturnal ease have advanced considerably. So for many years now all the tenants of the house, save one, have brought with them thcii own beds.

“On taking office the Premiers have far too much to occupy them politically to have leisure or inclination for domestic cares. Thus it naturally falls on tlie womenfolk to arrange ad the dotails of furnishing No. 10. The usual procedure is tn go over the house, docide what shall be stored and what retained, and which articles of personal furniture will serve best to make the place more like home. Generally speaking, there is one article which is always brought, whether it fits in with the decorative scheme or not — the new tenant’s favourite armchair.

“This certainly happened in the cases of lift'. Ramsay MacDonald, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Lloyd George. Lady Oxford, Mrs. Baldwin and Miss Ishbel MacDonald have all taken considerable trouble during their various tenancies to.make the house cheerful and comfortable. Mrs. Baldwin, in particular, had furniture transferred to the house, both from her London residence and from her country house in Worcestershire. At her suggestion much .redecoration on modern lines has been done to bring No. 10 up-to-date and.make it bright.

“Officially” Supplied -Furniture. “No. 30 is the scene of much bustle and activity with each change ol tenant. Sufficient furniture for ordinary needs is ‘officially’ supplied, but few of the women who have lived, in the house have been content to leave the furnishing at that. .Some of the ‘stock’ articles are usually sent down to the cellar for storage until the next change of Government, and what is left in the rooms is readjusted to nt in with the household belongings brought by the new tenant. “Some of the furniture supplied by the Office of Works is heavy and old-fashioned. A certain amount of it dates from .Disraeli,’s daj's (extensive re-furnishing must-have been necessary after No. lil’s 50 years as an office), but there are a few pieces which arc considerably more ancient. There may even be furniture in the house which dates back to the year when No. 10 first became the official residence of the Prime Minister.

“Most of No. 10’s hostesses find considerable reorganisation necessary, in respect of cutlery, china and kit-chen-ware. Many of the articles supplied are old-fashioned and unattractive. These are sometimes used for particularly official entertainments, but for private use the lady ot lhe house generally prefers to bring her own treasured possessions. Servants Are A Problem.

“Again, servants are a very real problem to any woman about to move into No. 10. The new mistress has no house staff .officially supplied for her convenience, so she needs lo engage a staff of her own, and the choice is a matter demanding thought and attention. She is allowed to take only a stated number, and no matter how high an opinion she may have of her staff, their characters and past: lives must be subject, to thorough investigation. . . .

“Having chosen her servants, the mistress of No. 10 has merely begun her anxieties. When living in No. 10 the .wife of the Prime Minister has to submit to official regulations ruling the occupation of the house. Moreover, she cannot know how long hex - tenancy will last, for this is one of the few houses which cannot bo governed by any terms of lease or contract.

“Furthermore, site must sec that everything in the house ■which she has moved, or stored in the cellar, is returned to its official place. None of her possessions must he left behind, and a mi mi to inventory of everything in the house must lie checked and signed. ’ ’