View of Downing Street, City of Westminster, looking west from Whitehall. The street was originally built in 1682 by Sir George Downing. A notorious spy for Oliver Cromwell and later Charles II, he invested in property and acquired considerable wealth. On the left, part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with the Home Office. A massive building planned around courtyards to an 1861 design, completed 1873, by Sir George Gilbert Scott with Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt. This part was originally the Colonial Office. The building is Grade I listed, number 1066102. On the right, part of the Treasury Buildings including the Privy Council Office and Cabinet Office. It incorporates the remains of Henry VIII's Whitehall Palace, Dorset House 1700-10, William Kent's Treasury 1733-36, Privy Council and Cabinet Offices 1824-27 by Sir John Soane. All parts of the building are in use as government offices. It is Grade I listed, number 1267063. Five early to mid-nineteenth century cast-iron lamp standards of Windsor pattern with square bases, octagonal decorated shafts and Nico lanterns are Grade II listed, number 1066904. There are a number of pedestrians in the street. At the time of Edward Heath's Premiership, there were no security gates to the street, and there was open public access.
