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Downing St. and Inns of Court

Do you have any recommendations on how to get close to 10 Downing St (I know there are barricades) and Inns of the Temple. I have ancestors who were members and a great uncle was Sir George Downing, so I'd like to see these places from a genealogical point of view. Pretty sure the Prime Minister isn't going to invite me in...

Thank you.

Posted by
8565 posts

You might see the Inns of the Court via London Walks, www.walks.com

As far as #10 Downing Street you might recall recent brutal terrorist attacks.

Pretty certain your ancestory is of no importance when it comes to the safety of the PM.

You could also search the web for further information on your great Uncle and possibly find a professor or historian who lives in London who has written about Sir Downing.

Posted by
631 posts

"Pretty sure the Prime Minister isn't going to invite me in..." depends what donation to party funds you offer (and this is not a joke!)

start with the easier bit: both Inns of Temple do tours, if you can produce evidence of ancestors it might bump you up any waiitng list!
http://middletemplehall.org.uk/tours-of-middle-temple-hall.html

https://www.innertemple.org.uk/estate-garden/guided-tours-of-the-inn/

I think some of the streets in Middle Temple are open to the public on foot (well at least one is signposted as a route so they'd better be!).

Downing Street is difficult, there are pretty strict about security, you can't get within 300ft of the front door. I think from the Whitehall Gate you can just about get a glimpse of the front door but it would be best show your passport and explain to the police BEFORE you start poking cameras through the gates. But they let the press closer and they are generally scum (that wasn't a joke either....) so nothing is impossible. How good is your genealogical documentation???

By the way, the street is named after the first Sir George Downing, there were 3 in total and all will need several more greats in front of uncle.

Posted by
5310 posts

I have a picture of me taken outside of 10 Downing St ... but it was taken in 1971, in a different world. So the answer maybe that you are 40+ years too late.

As for the press etc, the far side of Downing Street is the coldest place in Britain, according to a friend of mine who is a director at CNN.

Posted by
205 posts

far side of Downing Street is the coldest place in Britain

No. It was the cabinet room the morning after the election.

Posted by
5310 posts

But no good to just turn up.

As to Whitehall buildings normally closed to the public, the FCO interior is well worth a visit on these open house things.

Posted by
239 posts

You can wander almost at will around all the Inns of Court, at least during the day. The gardens in the Temple and Grays Inn arenot open to the public, but pretty much everywhere else is (apart from the chambers buildings and dining halls of course).

Posted by
631 posts

I agree with Emma, but don't ask me who to write to! I pondered over this, there seem to be rival departments with their own empires. PM's private office look after her business, Cabinet Secretary's office look after things not directly involving PM. Neither go out of their way to show how mere mortals can contact them. Police will just say not their problem.

Posted by
433 posts

The Inns of Court walk offered by London Walks is a delight. Highly recommended. The days of walking past the PM's residence on Downing are over. I did it in 1977. 10 years ago, barricades and heavily armed soldiers.

Posted by
242 posts

Perhaps I will try to contact the sites you mention, although I am not holding my breath. Actually, I am an author and genealogist. Sir George Downing is my 9th great uncle, and I wrote an article about him that was published state side:

http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/massachusetts-scoundrel-downing-street-named/

Also, I published his mother, Lucy Winthrop Downing's story on my website:

https://donnagawell.com/2017/09/02/the-founding-mother-of-harvard-lucy-winthrop-downing-a-puritan-lady-of-influence/[1]

Posted by
631 posts

what most Americans don't grasp about Britain is that it's very eccentric. Almost anything is possible, you just have to know the right person to fix it for you. With your documentation half the job is done. So send a few emails!

Posted by
242 posts

Thanks for the encouragement! I will send an email or two off to someone in London. Maybe old Sir George Downing can do some good from the grave, even though he was quite the scoundrel while living.