When the movement for Irish independence became increasingly violent, it was decided to retain the barriers, which were raised and strengthened. On 26 November 1920 construction commenced on a wooden barricade, 8 feet (2.4m) high at the end of the street. They were described as being of a "substantial character" mounted on proper foundations and incorporated vehicle gates. [16] [17] The barriers were taken down in 1922 when the Irish Free State was created.

Downing Street Years by Thatcher Margaret, Signed - AbeBooks Downing Street Years by Thatcher Margaret, Signed - AbeBooks

This first volume of Margaret Thatcher's memoirs, which encompasses the entirety of her career as Prime Minister. I briefly dipped into this at various places of interest and looked at 'The World Turned Right Side Up': visit to Washington in July 1987, at a time when MT's political fortunes were riding high and President Reagan was reeling under the continuing 'Irangate' revelations.

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I can remember the arguments that she had with Nigel Lawson, Geoffrey Hows, the "wets" in her cabinet and the like. I also remember the heated discussions people had over the miner's strike, EMU, student loans, the poll tax and so on, but remember folks these arguments happened a quarter of a century now, so much of what she talk about feels like it happened a long long time ago, in a place that feels like, but isn't quite, England. Barriers were erected at the St James's Park end of the street for the unveiling of the Cenotaph on 11 November 1920. They were a public safety measure intended to prevent the crowds in Whitehall becoming too dense. [16] Downing Street were the houses between Number 9 and Whitehall that were taken over by the government and demolished in 1824 to allow the construction of the Privy Council Office, Board of Trade and Treasury offices.

Downing Street Years by Thatcher Margaret, First Edition Downing Street Years by Thatcher Margaret, First Edition

This first volume of her memoirs is a riveting first-hand portrait of the events and personalities of her eleven years in power. She recalls the triumphs and the critical moments of her premiership – the Falklands War, the miners' strike, the Brighton bomb, the Westland Affair and her unprecedented three election victories. Her judgements of the men and women she encountered, whether world statesmen or Cabinet colleagues, are astonishingly frank. She is lavish with her praise; devastating with her criticism. The book reaches a gripping climax with an hour-by-hour description from inside 10 Downing Street of her dramatic final days in office.

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Some sources believe that Thatcher wrote at least part of the book at the Manor House Hotel, in Castle Combe, in the Full Glass bar. [12] [13] Reception [ edit ] This book looks at the decade plus that she was in power. It's an interesting book, because she talks about the things that drew me to student politics in the late 1980s. But anyone who reads it now will find it reads more like a historical treaties than it does anything else. I say this because much of what she writes about have become settled facts that everyone agrees on. I thought it very well written It is clear to read, quite fast paced, and contains a lot more humor than I expected. Anecdotes are included but they are all relevent to the content of the chapter and never distracting from the flow of the book. That isn't to say that what she wrote wasn't interesting or didn't made me smile. As an example, her certainty that they'd seen off the Labour party as a party of "prolonged government" had to make me laugh, while her concerns about how a unified Germany might destablise Europe has to make you doubt her judgment. During William Gladstone’s occupancy in 1884, electric lighting was fitted and the first telephones were installed. Central heating was installed in 1937 and the attic rooms converted into a flat for the Prime Minister.