No. 10: The Geography of Power at Downing Street

by Jack Brown

Fronted by one of the world’s most iconic doors, 10 Downing Street is the home and office of the British Prime Minister and the heart of British politics. Steeped in both political and architectural history, this famed address was originally designed in the late seventeenth century as little more than a place of residence, with no foresight of the political significance the location would come to hold. As its role evolved, 10 Downing Street, now known simply as ‘Number 10,’ has required constant adaptation in order to accommodate the changing requirements of the premiership. 
Written by Number 10’s first ever ‘Researcher in Residence,’ with unprecedented access to people and papers, No. 10: The Geography of Power at Downing Street sheds new light on unexplored aspects of Prime Ministers’ lives. Jack Brown tells the story of the intimately entwined relationships between the house and its post-war residents, telling how each occupant’s use and modification of the building reveals their own values and approaches to the office of Prime Minister. The book reveals how and why Prime Ministers have stamped their personalities and philosophies upon Number 10 and how the building has directly affected the ability of some Prime Ministers to perform the role. Both fascinating and extremely revealing, No. 10 offers an intimate account of British political power and the building at its core. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the nature and history of British politics.  

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History

400 pages, Hardcover

Published November 15, 2019

Reviews

[Matt Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested by this book because i wanted to learn more about the lives of Prime Ministers while in office. I was initially concerned that it would be just focussed on the building itself for the whole book. However, after an initial chapter on the building's history (which was v interesting) the book moved on to how different PMs used the building and how the structure of the building shapes the office itself. I find these structural influences very interesting.


I think this book would have benefitted from floor plans to keep track of the different rooms. However, I reckon this wasn't allowed for security reasons

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book rides the line between academic tome and general audience political book. I did learn a lot of the literal layout of No. 10 and its associated buildings. That said - there was another pass at editing that would've improved this. I don't know if they didn't put diagrams of the floors in the book for security reasons (I mean, they described it enough that I can't think that's a reason), but it would've been very helpful to see layouts of sections so one could get a better appreciation of all the rooms. There was also a lot of repetition in the book (repeatedly introducing people that already had been mentioned 4 times before). There was a "coldness" in how the book was laid out, as it would be in an academic paper, that could've been smoothed over if this was a book for more general consumption. I think it's trying to be in both worlds as once - and you're either a dry (but interesting!) academic book or an entertaining telling of past PMs and their staff in No. 10.

[Artie LeBlanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt that the material in this book could have been better organised - somehow the book lacked structure. There is a lot of information in it, but it seems somewhat scattergun in presentation.

It is also crying out for floor plans. I had concluded that they might have been excluded for security reasons - but the author shows floor plans at book launches etc, so this would seem not to be the case.

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

No. 10: The Geography of Power at Downing Street is a compelling exploration of the iconic residence of the British Prime Minister, blending political history with architectural insight. Jack Brown, leveraging his unprecedented access as Number 10’s first-ever ‘Researcher in Residence,’ examines how each Prime Minister has imprinted their personality and philosophy on the building. From post-war transformations to intimate stories of power and decision making, this book unveils how the physical space of Number 10 has shaped and been shaped by those who occupy it. Essential reading for political enthusiasts, historians, and anyone fascinated by the interplay between architecture and governance

[Sean Okeeffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent account, based on original research (the author was researcher-in-residence) of how 10 Downing Street has changed physically over the years - giving insight into its various occupants. Plenty of striking anecdotes: Margaret Thatcher had a small figure of a man cutting reeds included in new plasterwork - so that there would always be a thatcher in Downing Street. Also striking is that Gordon Brown had a portrait of Thatcher commissioned for No. 10. The only pity is that the narrative doesn’t run to the present day: no doubt sensitivities - and the 30-year rule - played a part.

[Thomas Meehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts slowly but fascinating once it gets into its stride. Really enjoyed the extra chapters on Blair and Brown which were more narrative. A similar approach to the other prime ministers might have been good (as well as not instead of the more analytical chapters looking at particular functions). Really needs a map! Even if only a rough sketch map. Luckily some kind of online floor plans and Google maps are available.

[Simon Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I’ve loved reading about Downing Street since I was a teenager getting first into politics. I’ve loved seeing photos and how it was completed renovated in the 60s. So it was fantastic therefore to get my hands on this book. Jack Brown has delivered a thorough and insightful detailed read! I loved it! Great job.

[Harry Stovin-Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a criticism of the brilliant archival work that has gone into this book, but I had hoped that the updated chapters about No. 10 during the May/Johnson premierships and the impact of COVID-19 would be longer! I think more research can be and should be done on this topic.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps not to be read assiduously unless doing some historical research! I did skip a few pages from time to time… Some of the chapters on the geography of the building itself are less interesting than those which highlight the PMs’ influence and thoughts on this iconic place.

[ROL · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

A neat little book and an interesting read. however, rather let down by the fact that despite only being c.200 pages long (excluding notes and index) it felt very repititious.

Not quite 'books which should have been articles' territory. But maybe a series of articles?

[Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting information but dull writing. At times it was hard to keep interested. I felt this book would be better as a detailed magazine article rather than be padded out to make a book.