Westminster Talks: Prime Ministers and Downing Street from 1735 Until Today: A Uniquely British puzzle

Prime Ministers and Downing Street from 1735 until today: a uniquely British puzzle

Britain has had 53 Prime Ministers since 1710, 38 of whom have lived in Downing Street. This lecture will describe the constraints of the physical space in No 10, and how the premiership evolved through four stages over the last 300 years. The lecture draws on Anthony Seldon’s experience of writing books on the last four Prime Ministers, as the authorised historian of Downing Street, and on his experience of helping earlier Prime Ministers after they left office. No 10 is one of the most important and celebrated historic buildings in the world, it is also one of the most puzzling, as he will reveal in this illustrated lecture.
 
Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor, University of Buckingham
Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Buckingham, is a leading contemporary historian, educationalist, commentator and political author.
He was Master of Wellington College, one of Britain's leading independent schools, until 2015. He is author or editor of over 40 books on contemporary history, politics and education, was the co-founder and first director of the Centre for Contemporary British History, is co-founder of Action for Happiness, and is honorary historical adviser to 10 Downing Street.
His many other activities include being Chair of the National Comment Awards, a member of the First World War Centenary Culture Committee, and a governor of The Royal Shakespeare Company.