Mill Dam, Customs House

HER Number

4529

District

S Tyneside

Site Name

Mill Dam, Customs House

Place

South Shields

Map Sheet

NZ36NE

Class

Maritime

Site Type: Broad

Maritime Office

Site Type: Specific

Custom House

General Period

POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Victorian 1837 to 1901

Form of Evidence

Extant Building

Description

This building of 1863-64, by T.H. Clemence, architect (borough engineer) was originally the Customs House built just before South Shields was declared a separate customs port in 1865. The addition of 1878 was built to house the offices of the local Marine Board. It consists of an open arcade on coupled rusticated piers with three large depressed arches. Above are three bays divided by coupled Corinthian half columns, in the centre supporting a big pediment (with coat of arms carved by T.W. Howe). It is built of white brick with stone dressings. The three-bay extension is by J.H. Morton, 1878. It was restored in 1984. LISTED GRADE 2

Easting

435860

Northing

566850

Grid Reference

NZ435860566850

Sources

<< HER 4529 >> Dept. of National Heritage, of Buildings of Special ... Interest; North of England Civic Trust on behalf of South Tyneside Council, September 2006, Mill Dam Conservation Area; George B. Hodgson, 1996, Borough of South Shields (first published 1903); N. Pevsner, 1953, The Buildings of England: County Durham