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Number 10, Downing Street, is the formal address in London for the senior cabinet ministers, including The Prime Minister. The street in Westminster, central [[London]], has been the home of the ministers for over 200 years though has not always enjoyed such exclusive residents.

Number 10, Downing Street, is the formal address in London for the senior cabinet ministers, including The Prime Minister. The street in Westminster, central [[London]], has been the home of the ministers for over 200 years though has not always enjoyed such exclusive residents.

The street was built by and named after Sir George Downing, 1st Baronet (1632–1689), though after his death the area around Downing Street fell out of favour with London's elite and was soon overrun by gypsies. Number 11 Downing Street (now the home of the Chancellor) was lived in by an [[Irish]] [[gypsy]] named Sean Parnell who ran a betting shop and whorehouse under its roof. Number 10 itself fared little better and was even briefly a cockfighting venue.

The street was built by and named after Sir George Downing, 1st Baronet (1632–1689), though after his death the area around Downing Street fell out of favour with London's elite and was soon overrun by gypsies. Number 11 Downing Street (now the home of the Chancellor) was lived in by an [[Irish]] gypsy named Sean Parnell who ran a betting shop and whorehouse under its roof. Number 10 itself fared little better and was even briefly a cockfighting venue.

Things improved in the early 1700s when Queen Anne had the unsavoury occupants shot.

Things improved in the early 1700s when Queen Anne had the unsavoury occupants shot.