FOREIGN OFFICE, DOWNING STREET, WESTMINSTER, consists of four private houses, gradually purchased at each side of the centre one; two look into the Park, two others front to Downing-street and back to Fluyder-street. The chief officer is a Cabinet Minister, and is called the "Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs".

Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850

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Foreign Office, Downing street, S.W. Hours 12 to 6. —NEAREST Railway Stations Westminster-bridge and Charing cross (Dist. and S.E); Omnibus Route, Parliament-street ; Cab Rank, Palace-yard.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879

THE FOREIGN OFFICE. - The Foreign Office is situated in Downing Street, on the East side of St. James's Park, in close proximity to the Home, Colonial and India Offices. These buildings were erected 1868-73 after designs by Sir Gilbert Scott, R.A., and are in the Italian style. The hours of attendance are from 12 to 6. Visitors are not now allowed admission. The portion on the right with the Tower is the India Office, and the low semi-circular portion are the rooms appropriated to the Secretary of State for India.

George Birch, The Descriptive Album of London, c.1896