A Nation's Jewel: No. 10 Downing Street 撰文及考題設計 英國文化協會教學團隊 Joel Finnestad
W
ithout a doubt, one of the most famous residences in all of England is No. 10 Downing
Number 10 is one of the most highly guarded build-
Street. It is colloquially known as "Number 10", and
ings in the nation. There are no keys to the front door,
is the home and headquarters of the Executive Arm
which is the only way in or out of the building. Many
of the British Government. Originally the residence
wonder why the door's black exterior is so shiny. After
for the First Lord of the Treasury, it is now where the
the IRA mortar attack in 1991, the original solid oak
prime minister , who also holds this post, resides. De-
door was replaced with a blast proof steel door.
scribed by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Despite security guards and high-tech equipment,
as "one of the most precious jewels in the national
thirty-seven computers, four mobile phones, various
heritage", "Number 10" has been through some major
office equipment and a bicycle were stolen in the first
changes.
five years of Prime Minister Tony Blair's term of of-
Located in the City of Westminster, the building has
fice!
approximately one hundred rooms（far less than the
Priceless artwork and antiques adorn the many
775 rooms in Buckingham Palace）, including a pri-
rooms at 10 Downing Street, and change depending
vate residence on the third floor, and a kitchen in the
on the taste of the current Prime Minister. One room
basement. It was originally made up of three houses,
in particular houses many paintings, and the name of
and was offered to Sir Robert Walpole by George II in
the room changes based on the colour the prime min-
1732.
ister chooses to paint it. Margaret Thatcher changed it
Few early prime ministers lived there, and it was close to being razed several times! In the mid-twenti-
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repainted black.
from the Blue Room to the Green Room, and it is now known as the Terracotta Room.
eth century, it was falling apart（again）, and few peo-
A priceless grandfather clock is a permanent fea-
ple were allowed on the second floor for fear the walls
ture in the collection, but during his term of office, Sir
would collapse. At a cost of over three million pounds,
Winston Churchill had it silenced because its ringing
renovations restored Number 10 to its former glory.
annoyed him so much.
In some rooms, fourty coats of paint were stripped
Visitors to Number 10 might be surprised to meet
from the walls, revealing details unseen for two hun-
one of its most popular inhabitants, Larry, "Chief
dred years. The exterior bricks, thought to be black in
Mouser to the Cabinet Office". Larry is stray cat that
colour, were discovered to be yellow. Two centuries of
was shortlisted and eventually appointed to his official
pollution turned them black, and they have since been
post to help deal with a rat problem. Probably the most
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