X-Nico

11 unusual facts about 10 Downing Street


A Panther in the Basement

Young Proffy has organized a pro-Israel underground cell that proposes to blow up Buckingham Palace or perhaps 10 Downing Street.

Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement

The British Cabinet discussed the proposed agreement at 10 Downing Street on 28 May 1920.

Henry de Nassau, Lord Overkirk

He resided in London, notably at Overkirk House, which later became part of 10 Downing Street.

John Etty

In June 2007 John Etty was invited to a reception for former Bevin Boys at the House of Commons, hosted by Gordon Banks MP, John Etty and wife Kath were introduced to the Prime Minister at No 10 Downing Street on 25 March 2008, with John Etty receiving his Bevin Boys' Veterans Badge from Gordon Brown.

Linda Colley

In 1999, Colley was one of several speakers invited to deliver a Millennium Lecture at 10 Downing Street by the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and his wife Cherie Blair.

Malton railway station

There was a petition on 10 Downing Street to reopen the line and upgrade the North Yorkshire Moors railway to cope with higher speeds (40-50 mph as opposed to 25 mph), to improve transport in the region, and to provide relief for the A64 more cheaply than dualling it in its entirety.

Marjorie Sherlock

Her painting Liverpool Street, made in 1917, was in the 10 Downing Street collection in 1987, when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Her painting Liverpool Street Station, now in the Government Art Collection, was first shown at the Royal Academy in 1917 and in 1987 was at 10 Downing Street when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Operation Pathway

The name of the operation, and at least some of its details were inadvertently revealed when Assistant Commissioner for Special Operations Robert Quick was photographed entering Number 10 Downing Street with classified documents in plain sight.

Richard Pim

During World War II he served as supervisor of the Defence Map Room, 10 Downing Street and head of the Upper War Room, Admiralty.

Ron Springett

This list included Ron Springett, and so, on 10 June 2009, Springett was presented with his medal by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a ceremony at 10 Downing Street.


Cannon Row Police Station

The station was responsible for policing Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, The Palace of Westminster (Parliament), No 10 Downing Street, Clarence House, St. James' Palace and was responsible for all major events and demonstrations that took place in Central London.

Clifford Curzon

During his premiership, Edward Heath invited musician friends, such as Clifford Curzon and the Amadeus Quartet, to perform at either Chequers or 10 Downing Street.

Edgar Beck

During Beck's chairmanship of Mowlem, the company reconstructed the 18th-century building at 10 Downing Street (1963), built the new London Bridge (1967), and built the NatWest Tower (1979, now Tower 42).

Elizabeth Douglas-Home, Baroness Home of the Hirsel

She avoided the limelight in life, but by a curious coincidence her memorial service occurred in November 1990 at the height of the crisis which led to the resignation of Margaret Thatcher when she and all connected with her were holed up in 10 Downing Street – and her husband Denis Thatcher broke cover by going to the service.

Kirsty Dillon

She works closely with survivors of domestic violence through organisations such as Early Intervention Project and Women's Aid and campaigns to raise awareness which includes handing in petition at 10 Downing Street and gaining support from John Nettles and David James to raise awareness amongst men.

Lemuel Francis Abbott

Lemuel "Francis" Abbott (ca. 1760 – 5 December 1802) was an English portrait painter, famous for his likeness of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (currently hanging in the Terracotta Room of number 10 Downing Street) and for those of other naval officers and literary figures of the 18th century.

Parliamentary Brief

It has been described as ‘required reading’ (George Jones, political editor, The Daily Telegraph), with ‘an impressive range of sources’ (Philip Gould, adviser to the Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street).

Theodore Goddard

Goddard went straight to Downing Street to see Baldwin, as a result of which he was provided with an aeroplane to take him directly to Cannes.