Waterguard - Offices & Buildings

ABERYSTWYTH (Mid Wales)

ABERDOVEY (Mid Wales)

AMLWCH (Isle of Anglesey)

BANGOR (North Wales)

BARMOUTH (West Wales)

BARRY (South Wales)

BEAUMARIS (North Wales)

BRITON FERRY (South Wales)

BURRY PORT (South Wales)

CARDIFF (South Wales)

CARDIFF AIRPORT (South Wales)

CARDIGAN (West Wales)

CARMARTHEN (South Wales)

CARNARVON (North Wales)

CHEPSTOW (South Wales)

CONNAH'S QUAY (North Wales)

CONWAY (North Wales)

Custom House

FERRYSIDE (South Wales)

Custom Office

FISHGUARD (West Wales)

Custom House

HOLYHEAD ( (Gwynedd - North Wales)

LLANELLY (South Wales)

MILFORD HAVEN (South Wales)

MUMBLES (South Wales)

NEWPORT (South Wales)

NEWPORT (West Wales)

NEYLAND (South Wales)

PENARTH (South Wales)

PORT TALBOT (South Wales)

PORTHCAWL (South Wales)

PWLHELLI (North Wales)

SOLVA (West Wales)

SWANSEA (South Wales)

During the period covered by this web site - 1809 to 1972 - there were buildings of many styles and types situated round the coast of the British Isles from which the Waterguard operated. Before 'partition' in 1923, what is now The Republic of Ireland came within the jurisdiction of the British Crown. The four 'countries' have their own pages to facilitate faster browsing and for ease of maintenance. The other countries can be selected using the appropriate 'button'.

::: Waterguard Offices in England :::

::: Waterguard Offices in Ireland :::

::: Waterguard Offices in Scotland :::

::: Waterguard Offices in Wales :::

Here the details of such offices, with images where available, are arranged alphabetically by location. Many ceased being occupied by HM Customs during the period covered by this web site -1809-1972 - or even before but, on the grounds they were 'home' to 'preventive men', they have been included anyway! My thanks goes to Mark Bullen for many of the images, and much of the detail, for the Custom Houses of Wales.

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Custom House


				The first Aberystwyth Custom House was leased in 1763 allowing the port to flourish. The second was built in 1773 at the junction of Pier Street and King Street, the present Castle Street. The third was purpose built in 1830 at the foot of Custom House Street by Job Sheldon. By 1895 Customs had moved to a third Custom House at 44 Bridge Street and then to a fourth at 30 Pier Street.

Coast Preventive Man's Office

A CPM's Office was situated at No 6, Second Row, Piercefield Estate, Penparcan, Aberystwyth at least until 1953.

Custom House


				Aberdovey had a Custom House in 1599 which continued in use at least until the end of the 19th century.

Watch House


				The Watch House and Pier at Amlwch on the Isle of Anglesey

Coast Preventive Man's Office

The CPM's Office was situated at 'Maesyllwyn', Tan-y-Bryn Road in December 1947.

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Custom House

In 1878 Bangor Custom House was located in nearby Port Dinorwic but had moved to premises in Garth Road in Bangor by 1895.

Custom House

Barmouth had two Custom Houses. In 1769 it moved from a room with a closet and a cellar to new premises consisting of two rooms and a cellar on the ground floor, two rooms and a closet on the second floor and an outbuilding in Church Street leased from to a William Jones.

Custom House


				The Barry Custom House was built circa 1830 in what is now Station Street. The building also housed the Mercantile Marine offices.

Waterguard Office

A Waterguard Office was later established at the Pier Head, Barry Dock.

Coast Preventive Man's Office

A CPM's office was situated at 40 Glamorgan Street on Barry Island at least until 1953.

Custom House

Cleiforg existed in 1610 as a hospice run by monks. Later it was used as a Custom House. Thomas Telford is reputed to have stayed at Cleiforg whilst the Menai Suspension Bridge was being built, and since that time it has been a family home.

In 1717 the Custom House, located on the shore, was leased from a John Sparrow but by 1874 Customs had moved to Town's End.

Coast Preventive Man's Office

A CPM's Office was situated at 32 Baldwins Crescent, Kings Dock, Swansea at least until 1953.

Custom House


				Burry Port Custom House was constructed about 1850. This image of the hexagonal building was taken about 1900. The remains of the building were just a shell in the early 1950s.

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Custom House


				Although the various Collectors' residences had been used as Custom Houses since the 16th century, the first purpose built Custom House was erected in St. Mary's Street between 1818 and 1820. After extensive alterations and extensions, HM Customs moved to a new building in 1898.



				The new Cardiff Custom House in Bute Street was used until the move to Portcullis House.

Waterguard Offices


				The Waterguard office building, known as 'The Castle', was built at Roath Dock in about 1853. It was moved, intact, 140 metres from its original location, by lorry in 1993 to facilitate the Cardiff Bay redevelopment!



				The 'Castle' is now a Grade II listed building and forms part of the Waterguard public house which was built in 2001.

Waterguard Offices were also situated at Queen Alexandra Dock and Roath Basin in 1953.

Waterguard Offices

A Waterguard Office was situated at Pengam Moors Airport at times between 1931 and 1954.

Waterguard Offices were established at Rhoose Airport when it opened 1954.

Custom House


				Cardigan Custom House was built in St Mary's Street opposite Chancery Lane during the eighteenth century and still survives as part of a private house. It is now a Grade II listed building.

Coast Preventive Man's Office

A CPM's office was situated at 1 River View, St. Dogmaels, Cardigan until at least 1953.

Custom House


				The earliest Carmarthen Custom House was built at the foot of Quay Street in the mid-sixteenth century. It was replaced in 1830 by a new building erected by Daniel Mainwaring and still survives as a greatly altered private house. By 1873 the Custom House was closed and officers from Ferryside were attending the port.

Custom House


				The first Carnarvon Custom House overlooked the Menai Strait and was occupied by Customs from the early 18th century until 1841. It is now the Anglesey public house.



				It was replaced as the Custom House in 1841 by a building at the seaward end of the High Street.

Custom House


				The first Chepstow Custom House was opened in 1573. Another was built during the reign of Charles II and remained in use well into the 1700's. By 1794 the Custom House had moved again. A map of old Chepstow would indicate that most of the town's Custom Houses were sited on The Back but all have now been demolished, including these two.

Custom House


				The Custom House at Connah's Quay was on the banks of the River Dee and was in operation in the 18th and 19th century's.

A Custom House was established at Conway in 1741. A new Custom House was leased in 1828 and appears to have been located in Castle Street but by 1871 was said to be located on The Quay.

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				Built in 1851 as the Customs Office for the port of Ferryside, the Georgian style building is now known as Gothic Villa and is a holiday home.

Coast Preventive Man's Office

A CPM's office was situated at Tennis Court Bungalow, Ferryside until at least 1953

A Custom House was established at Fishguard Harbour, Goodwick, Pembroke in 1926 to cope with the new Irish traffic.

Custom House


				The first Holyhead Custom House was leased in 1725. The Custom House at the Admiralty Pier was built circa 1822 by C Rennie and faced with Anglesey marble. It was rebuilt in 1868 and occupied by Customs until the early 1990's. It is now a Grade II listed building.

Waterguard Office


					The Holyhead Waterguard Offices being demolished c1970 to make way for a new Ferry Terminal.

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Custom House


				This Llanelly Custom House was occupied by Customs from 1828.

Boat House / Watch House

A Customs Boat House / Customs Watch House was established on the shore at Milford Haven before 1889. It remained in use until at least 1920.

Custom House


				Milford Haven Custom House was one of the town's first buildings, designed by William Pinkington and erected during the 1790's.



				From 1877 to 1886 the Custom House was removed to Marine Villa.



				The last Milford Haven Custom House was sited at the Town Docks and is now Milford Town Museum.

Waterguard Offices

A Waterguard Office was situated at Hakin Point, Milford Haven until at least 1953

Coast Preventive Man's Office

A CPM's office was situated at 13 Church Parks, Mumbles, Glamorgan in 1947.

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Custom House


				The first recorded Custom House in Newport was the waterside home of the 'Customer' or Collector David Seys in 1737. From 1810 it was situated in part of the old Westgate Inn before a purpose built Custom House was erected in Skinner Street sometime after 1827. Although poorly built and in need of constant repair this building remained in use until 1858. By the end of the century it was in the final stages of dilapidation.



				The new Newport Custom House was built in 1857 on Dock Street.

Coast Preventive Man's Office

A CPM's Office was situated at Alexandra Docks until at least 1953

Coast Preventive Man's Office

A CPM's Office was situated at 'Llety', Newport, Pembroke in 1953

Custom House


				Neyland Custom House was built during the 1870's and shared with the Marine Department of the GWR. It was re-designated as a Customs Station in 1903 until it closed in 1958. It served both Pembroke Dock and RAF Neyland (Flying Boats).

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PEMBROKE (South Wales)

Custom House

The present Pembroke Dock Custom House is a Victorian building that started life as an Admiralty storehouse in the 1820's. A central metal clocktower was removed in 1944.

It is now a Grade II listed building and HMRC - VAT & Excise - are still resident upstairs and the UKBA - Customs & Immigration - are located downstairs (2010)

Left - Original outside finish

Right - As refurbished by CADW (The Welsh version of English Heritage). Why the architect chose to paint it white is anybodies guess!

Coast Preventive Man's Office

In 1953 a CPM's Office was situated at 10 Prospect Place, Pembroke Dock, Pembroke

Custom House


				The Penarth Custom House was built in 1865 and was probably designed by Samuel Dobson who was responsible for Penarth Dock. The building now houses an inn and restaurant and is a Grade II listed building.

Custom House


				The Port Talbot Custom House, on the left of the Dock offices in Eagle Street, were shared with HM Immigration at Eagle Street. They were built in the mid 1860's although this photo dates from about 1900. Photo courtesy of the Port Talbot Historical Society - 2012

Waterguard Offices


					The Port Talbot Waterguard Office was a small building situated at the Pier Head, alongside the the locks. These photos are c1900. Photos are courtesy of the Port Talbot Historical Society - 2012

Custom House

Porthcaw Custom House is the round building on the slipway, near the RNLI. Unused now, it has been severely weathered over the years.

Custom House

At least four Custom Houses operated at Pwlhelli. The first from the early 1700's on a quay at Pen-y-lan. By 1760's it had moved to Custom House Square overlooking the 'landing place' and was leased from a Richard Edwards. In 1833 it had moved to a site at Edge Hill and by 1878 to New Street.

Coast Preventive Man's Office

A CPM's Office was situated at Wern-Newydd, Llanbedrog, in January 1948.

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Coast Preventive Man's Office

A CPM's Office was situated at 2 Spring Gardens, Solva until at least 1953

There was a Custom House at Pembroke in 1559 which was reported to be in a state of disrepair in 1592 - see diagram.

A building at 1 Commercial Row was used by HM Customs as a Custom House in 1820 and again in 1837. Single storied, it was originally built of a dressed stone in about 1818. It was laterr converted into a house by adding a second storey. In the 1980s it was bought by Dyfed County Council and used as a Respite Care Centre for the handicapped until it was demolished in the early 1990s to make way for the construction of 'Route 9'.

Custom House


				There was a Custom House at the bottom of Wind Street, Swansea in the early 18th century.



				In 1856/57 a new Custom House was built by Joseph Bricklands in Cambrian Place. This was occupied by Customs until about 1890.



				From about 1890 the Swansea Custom House moved further along Cambrian Place. After suffering extensive bomb damage in 1940, it was repaired and re-occupied from 1951 until 1979.

Waterguard Offices

Waterguard Offices were situated at the Pier Head, King's Dock (opposite 'A' Shed), South Dock and the Prince of Wales Dock in 1953.

The original building is on the right in the picture. A later extention, on the left of the picture, was constructed to incorporate a Long Room and the Excise when the Custom House in Swansea town centre was closed.