Customs House

MIDDLESBROUGH NORTH STREET, NZ 42 SE (4921) west side.

1/57 Customs House 12.4.72 - II Coal Exchange and hotel, 1836 by G. Burlison (Darlington). Mid C19 rear extension. Used as Customs House 1881 - c.1960; now used as community centre. Brick, faced on north and east sides with sandstone ashlar; banded rustication on ground floor. Welsh slate roof with rendered stack; felt slates on rear extension. Greek revival style. 2 storeys, 3 x 3 bays defined by giant pilasters. (East) entrance front has central renewed panelled double doors, overlight and 5-pane sidelights, in doorcase with fluted Doric columns and antae. 2 sash windows with glazing bars in each bay. Chamfered plinth, sill bands on ground floor, panelled aprons below first-floor windows and entablature between floors. Flag pole, in middle of first floor, passes through cornice. Shallow parapet, slightly raised and panelled over middle bay. Shallow-pitched hipped and gabled roof. Transverse ridge stack. Similar right return with window in place of central door. 3-panel double doors and overlight up 4 steps at right end. One-storey rear extension. Altered interior retains ground and first-floor assembly rooms at north end. Both have wood door architraves. Ceiling on first floor has deep double-recessed panels with coving and dentil cornices, above panelled wood tie beam supporting short panelled queen posts with egg-and-dart mouldings. Former cottages, adjoining south side, are not of special interest.

Listing NGR: NZ4959621195