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Offices and Buildings occupied and used by The Waterguard - England

  
 

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The old Aldbourough Custom House is situated in the High Street.

    
             

 

 

             
 

   

The old Appledore Custom House.

One of two buildings used as the Appledore Custom House. One, known in the 1960's as Cliff Cottage, was at West Appledore, and was used during two separate periods until the 1950's. The other, used for a few years in the 1930's, was known in the 1960's as Rock House and stood on the Quay.

    
             

 

             
 

   

The original Custom House was built between 1890 and 1891 at Junction Cut. 

By 1961 new, larger premises were required and half of the Port Authority Police building at the Gloucester Road gate was leased as the second Avonmouth Custom House.

A third, purpose built Custom House - shown here - housing all Customs staff was erected in Clayton Street in the early 1980's.

 

    
             

 

 
 

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The Barrow Custom House, near the town centre, is a conspicuous 4-storey grade II listed building dating from the 1860’s.

    
             

 

             
 

   

The Berwick Custom House, built in the late 18th century, is situated on the Quay Walls and is now a Grade II listed building.

    
             

 

             
 

   

A Custom House was built at the foot of Bridgeland Street in 1692. By 1749 it had moved to the top of  Bridge Street but had been moved again to the foot of Bridgeland Street by 1842. It is now a fish and chip restaurant.

   
             
             
 

   

The Boston Custom House was built in 1725 at the junction of South Street and Custom House Lane. It is now a Grade II listed building overlooking the Haven.

    
             

 

             
 

   

The proposed (c1900) Bradwell-on-Sea Waterguard 'Lookout Shelter'.

    
             
             
             
 

   

Inside?

    
             

 

 

             
 

   

This building, at West Street in this early 1900s photo when it was the Coastguard Life Saving Apparatus Station, was used as a Coast Preventive Man's Office c1939.

By 1947 the CPM's Office was situated at 59 Quay Road.

 

    
             

 

             
 

   

An early Bristol Custom House built on the quay at Welsh Back. This line drawing is circa 1666.

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

Situated on the north side of Queen Square, Bristol Custom House was built circa 1711 but was destroyed in the Bristol Riots of 1831.

  
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

The replacement building, 58 Queen Square, was especially designed and constructed by Sydney Smirke between 1835 and 1837 and remained in use until the 1980's.

The building housed Waterguard staff working in the Bristol Docks before the work followed the ships to Avonmouth at the mouth of the River Avon.

    
 

 

          

 

 

 

 

          
 

   

Built c1820, during the late fifties and early sixties Burnaston Hall was the flying club's accommodation at the then Derby Airport - Burnaston Airfield - which was part of Cardiff Waterguard Division.

Burnaston Airfield was an ex RAF grass airstrip from which Derby Airways, a forerunner of British Midland, operated DC3's to the Channel Islands and near continent during the summer months. It was a single Preventive Officer station and staff from the South Wales ports provided rotational cover on detached duty, each spell lasting eight weeks.

Whilst there, the officer took up residence in the flying club accommodation at Burnaston Hall.

    
 

 

          

 

 
 

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A Customs shed, on a pontoon in the River Medway at Chatham, pictured in 1916.

    
 

 

    

 

    

 

             
 

   

A Chester Custom House was established before 1633 in Watergate Street. It was rebuilt in 1868 on the same site.

    
             
             
 

 

    

 

    
 

 

Rebuilt in 1868, when the gothic features, which were popular at the time, were added. While this may detract from the original design of the building, it is in character with the church that almost surrounds it. It had closed as a Custom House by 1890.

In 1994 the building housed a Japanese restaurant.

  
 

 

          

 

 

 

    

 

    
 

 

10 Bridge Street, once containing the offices of J Jeans, and in effect Christchurch's Custom House at the time of the Battle of Mudeford in 1784.

The Battle of Mudeford was between HMS Orestes, HM Excise Cutter Resolution & HM Customs Cutter Swan and the smuggling luggers Civil Usage & Phoenix. The smuggling vessels were seized after the battle in which an Officer of HMS Orestes was shot and killed. Over 300 smugglers ran the contraband in land, none of contraband was seized.

1784 The Battle of Mudeford by Mike Powell (ISBN 1 897 887 01 9) tells the full story.

  
 

 

          

 

 

 

 

    

 

    
 

 

The first Custom House at West Cowes was built in 1868 but had closed as a Custom House by 1890. In 1994 the building housed a Japanese restaurant.

In 1935 the Custom House was part of the Post Office building in Cowes High Street.

  
 

 

          
 

 

    

 

    
 

 

In the 18th century a Watch House was established between what is now the Island Sailing Club and the Parade, and took over the work of East Cowes Custom House.

 

  
             
             
             
 

   

Pictured in the 1960s, the Watch House remained on this waterside site until long after the reorganisation of HMC&E in 1972.

    
             

 

             
 

   

Pictured in 1924, the entrance to the Customs baggage examination hall below the control tower.

    
             
 
 

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The Dartmouth Custom House, in Bayard's Cove, was built circa 1739. It is now a Grade II listed building.

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

Dartmouth Custom House - the east elevation

    
 

 

          

 

             
 

   

Dover Customs House from an engraving - c1660.

    
 

 

          

 

             
 

   

Clearing passengers and cars using the Clearway System - Red & Green - introduced in 1969.

    
 

 

          

 

 

             
 

   

The original caption was 'Dovercourt Early Photograph c1900 Customs House''

    
 

 

          

 

 

             
 

   

This Baggage Hall was opened in April 1961.

    
 

 

          

 

 

 

          
 

   

Exeter Custom House was built for the city between 1680 and 1681 by Luke Falvey to a design of Richard Allen. It formed the centrepiece of the newly remodeled quayside. It was built to accommodate both the royal customs officials and the city's own customs staff. It reflected the great commercial growth of the late 17th century and is believed to be England's oldest purpose built Custom House and the first brick building erected in Exeter.

It remained in continuous use by HM Customs and Excise until 1989.

    
             
             
             
 

   

The 'long room' with its unique Customs crest and its elaborate plaster ceiling made by John Abbott of Frithelstock is on the first floor and the ground floor has an earthen-floored strong room. The eastern end of the building, the Custom House Cottage, was extended in the early 18th century and the open arches at the front of the building were filled in and windows installed.

The building now houses Exeter Museum and is a Grade II listed building.

    
             
       

An article in the Railway Modeller for December 1981 by MH Bradley provides an interesting insight into the making of a model of Exeter Custom House. A PDF version is available from the 'button' to the right.
 

::: An article by MH Bradley - December 1981 :::
 
 
 

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Falmouth Custom House, built in the early 18th century (circa 1815) is situated on Custom House Quay.

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

The Coat of Arms above the entrance to the Falmouth Custom House.

    
 

 

          

 

             
 

 

The King's Pipe is the local name for a furnace that was was used to burn seized contraband seized by the Customs officers on behalf of the King - either imported goods on which the necessary customs duties had not been paid, or goods that could not be legally imported into Britain. Most docks had such chimneys - the London Docks in Wapping had three! - but few survive.

The furnace was within the courtyard walls of the Custom House situated by the Customs Quay at Falmouth and dates back to around 1814.

 

 

    
             

 

 

             
 

   

Fleetwood Custom House on Queen's Terrace was built in 1838 and designed by Decimus Burton. The building is now the home of Fleetwood museum.

    
             

 

             
 

   

The brick-built Customs Watch House on Fleetwood’s promenade is shown in this picture - c1892.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

    
             

 

             
 

   

The old Fowey Custom House was built in the 18th century.

It was replaced by a new Custom House in 1983.

    
             

 

 
 

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The first Gloucester Custom House was built in 1580 after the port was given the formal status of a port by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I. From that time, the coastline of the Severn estuary north-east of the Aust/Beachley area came under the jurisdiction of the new Custom House at Gloucester.

A new Custom House was completed in 1845 at Commercial Road to a design by Sidney Smirke, after the opening of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. During the 19th century, part of the building was lived in by one of the customs officers. Although the handling of foreign cargoes mainly moved to Sharpness, the Gloucester Custom House continued as an administrative office until the late 1970s when it was handed over to the Gloucestershire Regiment as a new HQ including the regimental museum.

    
             
             
 

   

Erected on the site of the old Fountain Tavern in 1815-16, it was originally built for the Excise Department but when they were amalgamated with the Customs Department to form HMC&E in 1819, it was renamed The Custom House.

The freehold of the previous Custom House in Whitehall Place was sold at auction for £2200 in 1826.

   
             
             
             
 

   

On the left of the building is a yard that houses a small museum of exhibits, showing the history of the Customs service and housing items that have been confiscated and the tools of the trade of smugglers.

    
             
             
 

   

   

The 'official' pier behind the Custom House - c1890 & 2010.

    
             

 

             
 

   

A small building, built in 1713, on the Custom House shore. It was called the Round House - although it is in fact octagonal - and was built as a 'Watch House' for the use of the Duty Tidewaiter who scanned the water to report ships arriving or sailing to and from the Legal Quays in the Pool of London.

Several Tidewaiters would stay in the building until it was their turn to go aboard an incoming ship. The walls and stairs to the top of the Watchhouse had 'pockets' in which the Tidewaiters could store the bedding whilst waiting for a ship.

They were required to take bedding - mattresses, blankets etc as well as all the food that they would require for at least a week. The Board forbade the use of the ships' bunks and the eating of ships' food. They were paid an allowance to cover those expenses but, of course, this was ignored! Thus they enjoyed free food and drew the allowance!

Having boarded their ship they sailed with it to the Pool of London where they stayed aboard until all of the cargo was discharged.This could be 2 months or more, such was the number of ships arriving from all over the world.

On completion of discharge, the Tidewaiter was supposed to return to Gravesend by Stage Coach, or later by train, but again, they would cadge a lift on an outward bound ship and pocket the fare provided by the Board!

They were not allowed to take their wives but most of them did. The Board however found out about  this practice and turned it to their advantage by employing the wives as 'Woman Search Officers'.

 

 

© Conrad Broadley

    
             

 

 

             
 

   

The Great Yarmouth Custom House on the South Quay, was built in 1720 by John Andrews, who at the time was the richest fish merchant in Europe, exporting herring around the world. After his death in 1802 it became the office for HM Customs and in 1984 it was bought by the Great Yarmouth Port and Haven Commissioners and used to house the Port Authority.

   
             

 

 

 

             
 

   

The Grimsby Custom House, built in 1874, behind a statue of the late Albert, Prince Consort - circa 1900. It is now a Grade II listed building.

    
             
 
 

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This Custom House, Hartlepool was built in 1844 as the Ship Inn. It was converted into a Custom House in 1880 and was replaced in 1911 by a purpose built Custom House.

 

 

 

From a pencil drawing by Eric Atkinson

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

The replacement, purpose built, Hartlepool Custom House, was constructed alongside the lock gates in 1911.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Crown copyright.

    
 

 

          

 

 

 

          
 

   

Harwich Custom House circa 1890.

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

 

Two early Georgian houses were converted into one around 1798. It became the Custom House some time after 1890 and remained the centre of customs operation until 1935. The coat of arms above the door has been removed but you can still make out the markings today.

Prior to 1932 there existed a free trade area and so the work of the customs was quite light, however with the passing of the Import Duties Act of 1932, a levy of 10% was placed on all imports which led to a vast increase in HM Customs workload. The premises soon became too small to cope with this increase and the customs operation was moved to Hamilton House in nearby Parkeston. Hamilton House had been built as an engine driver's lodgings then used as a corset factory, prior to its conversion to a Custom House. Customs moved out in the 1970's.

    
             

 

 

 

          
 

 

The Hayle Custom House circa 1812.

    
             

 

 

 

 

 

          
 

 

The original Hull Custom House, circa 1791. It was situated in the High Street, between the High Street and the River Hull.

HM Customs moved out in 1796 and moved to a new Custom House at Whitefriar Gate.

 

    
             

 

 
 

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The Ilfracombe Custom House, built in the harbour area opposite Rope Walk, had been vacated by 1851 in favour of a Watch House built alongside the vacated building.

  
             

 

 

 

 

          
 

   

The old Ipswich Custom House on Traders Wharf - from a watercolour by S Read c1839.

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

A replacement Custom House, built in 1844 by JM Clark for the Corporation of Ipswich on the Common Quay, Key Street, is one of the Wet Dock's finest buildings.

This picture of it appeared in the newspapers when it was reported that 'It was to be the venue for the divorce case of Mrs Ernest 'Wally' Simpson against her shipper husband later that month'  - October 1936

    
 

 

          
             
 

 

          
 

   

Interesting features include a striking red and cream brick design and a raised four-column portico displaying the Ipswich Coat of Arms. Customs moved out in the 1970's The building is now a Grade II listed building.

    
             

 

 
 

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The original King's Lynn Custom House was constructed in 1620 on the site where the Hogge Mansion is currently located, however this proved to be too small and a larger one was needed.

St George's Guildhall was used until the present Custom House was designed by architect Henry Bell and built by Sir John Turner in 1683 as a Merchant's Exchange.

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

It became the official Custom House in 1703 when HM Customs occupied the top floor. Initially the ground floor was used by merchants for trading. However they were unhappy being too far from the Tuesday Market Place and moved out. The house was bought by the Crown in 1717 for £800 and occupied by HM Customs (and later Excise) until they moved to a central office at Ipswich in 1989.

The building now houses the Tourist Information Centre and is a Grade I listed building.

    
             

 

 

             
 

   

The Lancaster Custom House, on the Quay by the River Lune, was designed by Richard Gillow and built in 1765. The building was restored and opened as a Maritime Museum in 1985.

    
             

 

             
 

   

This Leigh-on-Sea Custom House, was built in 1815, after the railway company took over the original Custom House which had been in Old Leigh since 1738.

    
             

 

 

 

          
 

   

Liverpool's first Customs officers operated from the cellars beneath the Exchange building, which dating back to at least 1515, was located in the first Town Hall. During the Tudor age Liverpool was a very modest place, noted mainly for its medieval tower and castle, and for its sheltered harbour - the Pool of Liverpool. By 1553 the increase in the port's trade necessitated a move to bigger premises in Castle Street. In 1663 the Custom House moved to Water Street, but 10 years later in 1674 a new Town Hall was built and the Custom House moved to Moor Street, near the Mersey. Just six years later the third Custom House was opened in a new building on the waterfront, overlooking the increasing quay side activity on the Strand. Customs remained there until 1722.

Customs dues, collected mainly from the European coastal trader, were equally modest, barely struggling into double figures at the end of Elizabeth's reign. However, the 17th Century was to see the start of Liverpool's rise to fame as Britain's second seaport, despite the ravages of civil war and plague.

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

The fourth Custom House in Liverpool was completed in 1722 at Canning Place, alongside the newly constructed dock - the first enclosed dock to be built outside London - occupying the mouth of the ancient pool. This early Georgian building was in use until the dock was rendered obsolete by Liverpool's rapid expansion.

The dock was filled in to create Canning Place on which the fifth Custom House was built between 1828 and 1839.

   
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

This Custom House, Liverpool's fifth, built between 1828 and 1839, was Liverpool's crowning glory. It had taken 11 years to build, at a cost of £245,000.00, and was officially named 'Revenue Buildings' as it also housed the Inland Revenue. Some idea of the magnitude of Liverpool as a world port at this time can be gained by looking at the volume of commerce carried out at the new Custom House.

For example, in the first half of 1844, Customs revenue exceeded £2 million, nearly a quarter of the entire revenue of the British Empire. In fact Liverpool was outstripping London itself in the transatlantic trade. But the greatest upheavals took place 100 years later, during World War II, when Liverpool was to pay a high price for its continued pre-eminence.

   
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

A painting by O Norie of the Liverpool Customs House and Canning Dock - c1852

   
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

In the summer of 1940 Adolf Hitler was advised that the destruction of the vital port of Liverpool could bring Britain to her knees without an invasion. As a result Merseyside suffered the heaviest air raids outside London. During one of the first heavy raids, on the night of August 1940, the Custom House was bombed and set on fire, damaging the roof and dome quite badly, but prompt action ensured that it was patched up again - just in time for the 1941 May Blitz.

Night after night, thousands of bombs and land-mines rained down over the city, and the ill-fated Custom House was hit again and again. A fire-storm swept the south side of the city centre, the Custom House dome melted and fell in and the building was totally gutted. The Luftwaffe pounded the stricken city for a whole week before Hitler turned his attentions towards Russia, giving the people of Liverpool a welcome respite.. Only the shell of the building remained standing and it was demolished during the late 1940's.

    
             

 

               
 

   

Virtually all of  the city centre buildings suffered some degree of damage, but the Cunard Building, next door to the world famous Port of Liverpool Building and the Liver Building, was left sufficiently intact to offer emergency accommodation for Customs. After WWII Liverpool's Custom House was relocated into the Cunard Building which had been constructed between 1913 and 1916 on the site of the former George’s Dock, which was closed in 1898. Part of the original dock wall still exists and is visible in the basement. The Cunard Building is Grade II listed.

Cunard Building was to remain home to the Custom House from 1941 until 1994 when the new Customs building at Queens Dock was completed.

    
               

 

             
 

   

St. Georges Landing Stage - circa 1900.

 

    
             
             
 

   

Princes Landing Stage - circa 1936.

Princes Landing Stage was connected to the Baggage Hall by a bridge. It was the point of arrival and departure for the large number of Liners that then used the Port. Transatlantic, West Africa, India, South America and assorted troopships and assisted passage emigration ships. These large ships came alongside the Landing Stage which was a floating berth in the river itself. After landing the passengers, the ships then docked on their various berths to discharge cargo and load before returning to the Landing Stage to embark outgoing passengers.

    
             

 

             
 

   

Customs Baggage Hall at Liverpool's Princes Landing Stage - circa 1923 - was connected to Princes Landing Stage by a bridge.

   
             
             
             
 

   

This photograph of the Landing Stage Baggage Hall was taken in about 1936 as 'evidence' to support plans to redesign the desk layout.

    
             
             
             
 

   

Drawing 'A'

The Landing Stage Baggage Hall desk layout as it was before the changes in 1936.

    
             
 

   

Drawing 'B'

The Landing Stage Baggage Hall desk layout as it was after the changes in 1937.

    
             
             
             
 

   

Baggage was offloaded by crane and then wheeled to the hall where it was laid out alphabetically, as the picture shows. When the passengers arrived, Officers circulated - complete with a Notice No 2 and the appropriate colour chalk - clearing the passengers, who could then leave making their own way or using the linked London train from the adjacent railway platform.

 

On the right hand side of this photograph, taken in about 1960, is a desk where detentions etc. were dealt with.

The offices for Waterguard staff were above and alongside the Baggage hall.

 

 

 

Copyright photograph courtesy of Trinity Mirror PLC

    
             
 
 

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During the seventy years of her life,  the Harpy was the home of Waterguard staff for the Port of London, and was to witness tremendous change, both in the world at large and in the organisation of Customs.

For the ordinary Preventive Officers and Boatmen, and later Assistant Preventive Officers, ‘minuted’ for duty on the Harpy, the wider events were probably less significant than the day to day routine - the boarding of vessels, the rummaging of boiler rooms, the writing up of reports and the making of tea. Such routine was relieved by unusual incidents or the personalities of colleagues.

Everyone who served on Harpy will have his own memories and many can draw on a well of anecdotes. 'It was like a Chinese brothel', said one former officer, who remembers upwards of 50 men crowded into that confined space, some trying to play cards in spite of the crush and sweat. If Chinese brothels have leaking ceilings, then indeed Harpy was like one, because at low tide she would rest on the river bed, listing ever so slightly. As the water tank was in the roof, it tended to list likewise, spilling its contents onto the upper deck and thence through the ceiling, perhaps drenching members of the card school below!

    
             
       
 

Select the link here for the full story of the 'Harpy' - the Pool of London's floating Waterguard station.

 

::: The Harpy Waterguard Station :::
 
             
 

   

London's first recorded Custom House was built by the side of the Thames in 1275 and rebuilt in 1378.

Shown here is the Custom House in medival times.

    
             
             
             
 

   

The building shown here was the third Custom House to be built on the site. It was completed in 1559 but was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

    
             
             
             
 

   

After the Great Fire of London, Sir Christopher Wren built a new Custom House. Finished in 1671 it was the fourth to be built on the site. Wren's Custom House was 189 feet in length, the centre section was 27 feet in depth, and the wings considerably more. It consisted of two floors. The upper floor housed the magnificent 'Long Room' that was 15 feet high and ran almost the whole length of the building, but it was severely damaged by a gunpowder explosion in 1714.

    
             
             
             
 

   

A replacement Custom House was built between 1717 and 1725 on Wren’s foundations, and to a similar design by the architect Thomas Ripley. The building was brick and stone and calculated to stand for ages.

    
             
             
             
 

   

This image of the London Custom House Long Room c1750 shows a hive of activity as vessels were reported, entries for goods were presented and duties were paid.

    
             
             
             
 

   

The present structure, the sixth, was built by David Laing between 1813 and 1817. Situated between London Bridge and the Tower of London it has a broad quay separating it from the Thames.

   
             
             
             
 

   

The Custom House was partly rebuilt, and the central pillars facing the river added, by Sir Robert Smirke in 1825.

    
             
             
             
 

              

    

The Custom House in 1846 (left) and including the Quay in 1896 (right).

    
             
             
             
 

   

The building, entered from Lower Thames Street, was the original home of the Waterguard Training Centre, until it relocated to Southend on Sea, and contained the London Port Waterguard Superintendent's HQ.

    
             
       
 

The Long Room was housed at Adelaide House after the building was damaged during the blitz in WWII. Repairs and other changes were completed in 1966 and the building was 're-opened' by Queen Elizabeth II on 8 June. The 'button' on the right selects a short history of the building together with details of the new work.
 

::: The Custom House re-vamp - 1966 :::
 

 

             
 

   

The London Docks at Wapping had at least two special ovens for burning ruined goods. They were also used to destroy contraband and imported goods on which the necessary customs duties had not been paid - usually tobacco - or goods that could not be legally imported into Britain. This caused great resentment in the area, especially in the days when most adults smoked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From an 'Illustrated London News' engraving of 1845

    
             

 

             
 

   

Customs offices built some time during the mid 19th century at the entrance to the dock.

    
             

 

             
 

   

The Customs and Excise Office at 20 Centre Road - pictured circa 1984.

    
             

 

             
 

   

The Customs Office near Stave Dock, in the Surrey Commercial Docks - pictured circa August 1970 after most of the Surrey Commercial Docks had closed.

    
             

 

             
 

   

A baggage movement pictured c1936.

    
             

 

             
 

   

A baggage movement pictured in 1935.

In the 1930s, travel between the UK and continental Europe was by boat and one of the busiest routes was between Dover and Calais. Trains from the port at Dover arrived at Victoria mainline station and hundreds of people from the boat train passed through the station each day. Station porters assisted passengers with their luggage.

London's Victoria Station had a staffed Waterguard office alongside platform 3 with an underground baggage lockup extending to below platform 8.

 

 

© Transport for London

    
             

 

             
 

   

Between flights - c1960

    
             

 

             
 

   

Opened in 1968 and believed  be the first purpose built Custom House at any of the world's airports.

    
             

 

             
 

   

Pictured c1968 after the introduction of the 'clearway system'.

    
             

 

             
 

   

The Aerodrome at Hounslow, Middlesex operated commercialy between 1931 and 1937. The 'Customs House' is shown c1935. Heathrow was preferred as the site for a commercial airport and the aerodrome was closed in 1947.

 

 

 

 

 

 

© English Heritage

    
             

 

             
 

   

A 1931 photograph of Lowestoft Custom House.

    
             

 

 

             
 

   

An earlier Lyme Regis Custom House, at the lower end of Broad Street, was destroyed by serious flood in 1844.

A replacement was built on the Cobb

    
             

 

 

             
 

   

The Baggage Hall at Lympne Airport in 1967 was a relic of the RAF's days.

    
             
 
 

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Built in the 18th century Maldon Custom House is behind the nearest Bow Window in this 20th century photograph by Richard Wilson.

    
             

 

             
 

   

Margate Custom House, now known as Droit House, on Margate Harbour. It is a Grade II listed building and the visitor centre for the Turner Contemporary art gallery.

    
             

 

             
 

   

Built for the Preventive Water Guard circa 1810 on a headland outside Margate.

    
             

 

 

               
 

   

The Watch House at Mevigissey overlooking the Harbour - circa 1900.

    
               

 

 

             
 

   

The Middlesbrough Custom House was constructed in 1835, in the Greek revival style. Originally built as the Middlesbrough Exchange and Hotel, it became the Corporation Hall before being taken over by HM Customs and Excise.

    
             
             
 

   

These Waterguard Offices were situated at Scotts Road, opposite the entrance to Middlesbrough Dock, on the first floor of this building, formely the offices of a shipyard which closed down in the 1930's, and which are still in use today by companies involved in construction work related to the offshore oil and gas industry.

The fencing around the building is a fairly recent addition.

   
             

 

             
 

   

During the 18th century the first Minehead Custom House was situated in the harbour at the landward end of the breakwater, but by 1920 a  second Custom House had been established to the east along the beach.

 

    
             

 

 
 

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The first Custom House in Newcastle is recorded in 1281. By 1604 a Custom House was situated on the Sandhill.

The present three storey Newcastle Custom House built by a Mr Peareth on the quayside between 1765 and 1767 and leased by the Crown until purchased by the Treasury in 1829. It was extended and re-fronted by a Mr Thomas Hall in 1835 to the designs of Sidney Smirke.

    
             

 

             
 

   

The 'Orwell' Customs Hailing Station on her way to the breakers yard via Albert Edward Dock, North Shields, in April 1957.

The Customs and Excise, who had had a Hailing Station moored at North Shields for more than 50 years, decided it was no longer necessary. Up until then every ship arriving or leaving the river reported its destination to the 'Orwell', an ex-lightship formerly the 'Edinburgh', and manned by three Watchers operating a 24 hour service.

    
 

 

          
       
 

Select the link here for the full story of the 'Orwell' - The 'Hailing Station' for vessels passing in or out of the River Tyne .

 

::: The Orwell Waterguard Hailing Station :::
 

 

 

             
 

   

This 'shed', manned by Customs Landing staff and Waterguard Officers, was sited alongside the Harbour Station - its exit gave access to Transit Road.

Up until the mid 1960's documents and carnets had to be shown and the engine and chassis numbers checked when importing and exporting every vehicle.

Prior to the introduction of the roll on/roll off ferry 'Falaise' in June 1964, all cars were carried by cargo ships and were loaded and unloaded by crane at the berths adjacent to the East Pier, and driven by AA or RAC staff to the shed to await their owners who would arrive by following passenger ship.

This picture - courtesy of Colin Holden - shows Phillip Harben, BBC Radio and Television's first celebrity Chef leaving the Customs clearance shed in his Daimler Conquest in 1957. The petrol pumps seen to the rear right of the car were operated by staff from the Harbour Garage in Clifton Road.

    
 

 

          
 
 

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The Padstow Custom House was built circa 1821 on land leased from a Mr Thomas Avery alongside the quay.

   
             
             
             
 

         

    

The Padstow Custom House as it was in the 19th century.

Top left - circa 1860

Top right - circa 1890

 

 

 

 

Bottom - circa 1860

 

 

 

 

 

©  The Malcolm McCarthy Collection

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

The Padstow Custom House is now a pub and restaurant, and is a Grade II listed building.

    
 

 

          

 

 

               
 

   

The Watch House on the Parade, pictured on the right in 1913, was used by Customs until 1928.

Parkgate, on the north bank of the River Dee, was the port for Chester. As the river silted up, and as Liverpool grew, the port fell into disuse. The building is now a private house.

    
               

 

 

 

          
 

   

The old Penzance Custom House had been rented but was plagued by damp.

It was replaced by the present Penzance Custom House, just off Chapel Street, which was designed by David Laing and constructed in 1820 by converting some existing warehouse buildings. A single storey on the roadway at the front becomes three storeys at the rear of the building.

  
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

Still in use as a Custom House in 1994, it is now a Grade II listed building.

    
 

 

          

 

 

             
 

   

The old Plymouth Custom House was built about 1580 and still stands in the Barbican.

It was replaced by another, also built on the Parade, prior to the 1700's - now demolished and the site of a car park.

   
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

It was replaced by a new, more imposing structure, also on the Parade, designed and built by David Laing in 1820.

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

    

    

Plymouth Custom House

    
 

 

          

 

             
 

   

This image is of the third Custom House to be built on this site. It was built in 1813 after the previous Custom House was burnt down, prior to that a Coffee House was on the site.

In front of the Custom House stands a replica of the Staplecross or Town Beam which dated from the 15th Century and was used for weighing imported goods - at a charge of half a penny per hundredweight. This was in addition to any customs duty or tax chargeable.

The building is now a pub and restaurant.

    
             

 

 

             
 

   

The Portsmouth Custom House at Gunwharf Quay was constructed in 1790 and is believed to be one of the first examples of a specifically designed office building. About 1880 it was taken over by the Navy and became the shore establishment HMS Vernon. 

A Scheduled Monument, it is now a pub and restaurant.

    
             

 

             
 

   

The Portsmouth harbour Waterguard Hailing Station - 4 August 1961.

    
             
 
 

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Built in 1545, the original Rye Custom House was on the road from Winchelsea almost at the foot of Strand Hill.

The two storied Custom House at 7 High Street, was built circa 1800 and is now a Grade II listed building

  
 

 

          
 
 

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The Custom House at St. Ives, Cornwall - c1900-1950.

    
             
             
             
 

 

The 'Old Custom House' at Wharf Road, St. Ives, Cornwall - 2009.

  
             

 

 

             
 

 

The Custom House on St. Mary's, Isle of Scilly, was built between 1841 and 1842 by Augustus Smith on the site of the old Customs Boat House.

  
             

 

             
 

   

The Salcombe Custom House, on Custom House Quay, Union Street was constructed in 1847. It formed part of Quay House which was the home of the resident Customs Officer until about 1900, and was leased to the Commissioners of Customs.

   
             
             
             
 

 

Quay House became the property of the Great Western Railway Co. in 1872.

It is now a Maritime and Local History Museum.

  
             
             
 

 

Manchester Custom House, built between 1894 and 1903, housed Customs staff only. The Excise staff being housed elsewhere despite attempts to concentrate the two offices in Manchester in 1924-25 which resulted in a public enquiry with strong opposition from civic and trade interests. A similar fate befell an attempt to combine the offices in 1959/60 and it was then decided to seek a site for the merger in Salford.

    
             
             
             
 

   

The new Custom House, opened on October 8 1970, consists of a six storey office block, on the right of the picture, with the Long Room and Queen's Warehouse in the foreground to the left, linked by a bridge on the first fioor.

The Customs and the Excise staff were at last accommodated together in Manchester.

    
             

 

 

             
 

 

Sharpness Custom House, opened some time after 1874, is situated alongside the tidal basin and lock at the Severn end of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. It was handed over to the Police and used as a Police Station in the 1990s and is now one of the bases of the Severn Area Rescue Association

 
             
             
 

 

The Marlipins Museum in Shoreham by Sea is reputed to have been the 14th century Custom House.

  
             
             
             
 

   

Between then and 1830, a Custom House existed at the south end of a building in Church Street. The chalk walled cellers of that building can be seen, below street level, at numbers 21 & 22 Church Street. Known as 'the vault', they are believed to have been 'Bonded' warehouses or the the 'Kings Warehouse' of that time.'

The Custom House building pictured here was constructed on the High Street in 1830. It later became the Town Hall, which still stands, and now houses a restaurant.

   
             
             
             
 

   

The Shoreham by Sea Custom House operational in 1950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
             

 

             
 

   

The Shoreham Airport Treminal was built 1934-1936 to serve the towns of Brighton, Hove and Worthing and managed by the Croydon based company Olley Air Services Ltd.

On 13 July 1936 a Croydon-Shoreham-Deauville service was inaugerated and were soon followed by Channel Air Ferries, Railway Air Services, Jersey Airways, Sabena, DDL, KLM and Imperial Airways. Destinations flown to included Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Malmo and Brussels.

The building remains today very much in its original shape. It is a Grade II listed building an and is open to the public.

    
             

 

 

 

             
 

 

The South Shields Custom House was built between 1863 and 1864 overlooking the River Tyne at Mill Dam. The architects were TM Clemence and the Borough Surveyor. The extension to the rear was added in 1878.

During the decline of the shipping industry in the 1960's, the building was closed and fell into disrepair before being rescued and turned into an Arts & Music Centre. It is now a listed building.

 

  
             

 

 

 

          
 

 

An extract from a map circa 1611 showing the Southampton Coftom Houfe and the Water Gate from the south quay outside the city walls.

The Water Gate had been built between 1338 and 1377 and by 1468 the house on the corner of the High Street and the modern Porter's Lane had become the Custom House.

By 1733 a new Custom House had been built on the quay and remained in use until 1846.

  
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

A Custom House, designed by Alfred Giles and built between 1846 and 1847, was situated in Canute Road. It was only occupied by Customs for 44 years and then sold to the Union Steam Ship Company.

The building was converted into luxury flats in 1983 with each flat named after a Union Castle ship.

    
             
             
 

 

          
 

   

This Southampton Custom House was designed by a Mr Hawke and erected in 1902 to the west of the 1847 building. Although it was Grade II listed, the building was demolished in 1966 and replaced with a concrete & glass 'Lego' type building known as Portcullis House.

   
 

 

          

 

             
 

 

Berth No 6 was used for outward traffic only. Passengers on foot were dealt with by HM Immigration and HM Customs, then went into the waiting room on the right. Cars and car passengers passed through the car way and were processed by HM Immigration, the AA and HM Customs who were housed in the 'kiosks'.

  
             

 

             
 

 

This Inward car hall used in cormection with the 'Viking I' service opened by Thoresons in May 1964. Heating was by radiant heaters, which can be seen suspended over the benches.

  
             
             
 

 

Opened by Sir Louis Petch KCB in 1964, Carby House, 73 Victoria Avenue, originally housed the Waterguard Training Centre on the 7th floor until disbanded during the reorganisation of 1972. The Outdoor Training Centre was housed on the 6th floor and a Lloyds Bank branch was opened on the ground floor.

The building was used for some time after reorganisation as the national C&E training centre, housing the Training and Staff Development Division (T&SDD) until the classroom training was moved to Wyboston Lakes residential training centre in Bedfordshire and the T&SDD was moved to Portcullis House. The site was eventually put-up for re-development.

  
             

 

 

             
 

 

The Stockton on Tees Custom House in Finkle Street was built in 1730. It later became an hotel. It was demolished circa 1968 and is now the site of the Castle Centre car park ramp!

  
             

 

             
 

 

Sunderland Custom House in West Sunnyside was built circa 1900 and is now a Grade II listed building.

  
             

 

 

 
 

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The Topsham Custom House was constructed in 1708 at 48 Fore Street adjacent to Topsham Quay. It was closed in 1826 and the work was transferred to Exeter.

The building, by now the The Lighter Inn, was destroyed by fire on 4th May 1971 and rebuilt.

  
             

 

             

 

Although a sketch made by the resident Preventive Officer in 1937 shows the Custom House, it was really only offices rented from the harbour authority.

  
             

 

             

 

This Custom House was built in 1560 and served as such until about 1910. It was sold as a private dwelling in 1927.

  
 

 

          

 

 

 

             

 

Weymouth Custom House on Custom House Quay, now a fine red brick Georgian house with deep bow windows, was originally built as a warehouse and used by Messrs Robilliard and Aheir in the late 18th century. Robilliard was a merchant who liked to oversee his shipping interests from his home.

It became the Custom House in 1874 and was leased from several owners until it was bought by the Crown in the early 1970's. In 1985 it became the Harbour Master's office.

It is now a Grade II listed building.

  
             
             

 

The 18th-century Whitby Custom House is situated on a corner site in the Old Market Place near the quay and now houses the City's Maritime Museum.

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

©  Crown copyright.

  
             
             

 

The Whitehaven Custom House, situated at the West Strand, was built in 1811 and considerably improved in 1861.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©Crown copyright.NMR

  
             

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

Before 1860 a Watch House was established at Yarmouth manned by a Coast Waiter/Principle Coast Officer.

The building was used by the Waterguard as an office until 1972. It is now used by the RNLI.

  
             

 

 

 
 

 

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