Talk:Downing Street
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"only opened from the inside"? If the P.M. goes out, does s/he have to knock to be readmitted? Or is there full-time live-in staff, and the place never left empty?
Or does this mean that the police officer mentioned doesn't have the key? Vicki Rosenzweig, Monday, June 3, 2002 --- Their was a documentary on the BBC about life in downing street focusing on the press office and it said that their is a security camera focoused on the door, and a monitor inside. So a member of staff watchs and waits for the right moment to open the door.
I know this is a bit "out-of-left-field" but is there a "Downing" after whom the street is named? -- Someone else 08:14 Feb 24, 2003 (UTC)
It's named after Sir George Downing who was a builder/property speculator who built much of the area sometime in the seventeenth century, if I remember correctly. I'd have to google it to be sure and add it to the article. Pete
You are right, Pete. As to whether there is another Downing St, I don't know of one but the article was worded as to suggest there was. I don't know if it is correct or not. Re Vicki's question above, there is someone inside and outside, with security cameras to unlock the door when a recognised person enters. Or else the Police Constable outside knocks on the door. The lack of an opening from the outside is for security purposes, in case someone pulled a gun on the policeman and demanded admittance. (Not that that is likely with the gates and unlike the US, the UK is not awash with guns. JTD 18:42 Feb 24, 2003 (UTC)
There are at least 18 other Downing Streets in the UK
- If and when they get an article (and I doubt they need one) we can disambiguate in the usual way. Pete/Pcb21 (talk) 00:02, 6 Mar 2004 (UTC)
- I know of one in Llanelli - for some reason, the occupant of number 11 on that street, but none of the other 11 Downing Streets, seems to get an awful lost of misdirected post aimed for Gordon Brown. Even after he complained to the regulator (OFCOM?). Of course, being considered Crown property, you can't take any legal action against Roayl Mail. Chris 23:46, 24 Mar 2005 (UTC)
I have removed the following text:
"The title of Prime Minister was created during the Kingdom of Great Britain, which had been formed when the Kingdoms of England and Scotland merged in 1707. In 1801, the Kingdom of Great Britain merged with the Kingdom of Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. When the Irish Free State left the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1921, it adopted a new name to describe its new territory, namely the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As a result, the state over which a Prime Minister's Cabinet ruled, and so the formal designation in the Prime Minister's title, has undergone constant change."
Not only is it irrelevant to the current article, it is factually incorrect - the title of Prime Minister was not created during the Kingdom of Great Britain; it only received semi-official recognition in 1905, when it was added to the Order of Precedence, and its actual status is still relatively ambiguous even today - eg Tony Blair receives a salary as First Lord of the Treasury, not as Prime Minister. Also, the UK being a Constituational Monarchy, it is incorrect to say that the Cabinet "rules" - rather, as the name suggests, it governs.--The Thieving Gypsy 21:42, 20 March 2006 (UTC)
I have changed the location details, as Downing street is nowhere near Buckingham Palace grounds (indeed later in the article in the history dialogue it clearly states "In the service of the King he was rewarded with the plot of land adjoining St. James's Park". - Changed to reflect location bordering Horseguard's and St James's.
[edit] The most famous address in Downing Street is 10 Downing Street?
- Is it the most famous address in London? I would think that it could be argued that either Buckingham Palace or Number One, London could be considered either more famous or as famous. Some might argue for Abbey Road! --jmb 17:50, 31 July 2006 (UTC)
Can any one tell me if the Government Chief Whip Rt Hon Jacqui Smith actually lives in Downing Street as there is never any mention of her staying there but it mentions on different websites that she has an official residence and office there. Robert Lowry, 06:30, 4 August 2005
