Former Customs House

The Former Customs House, built in 1836 by architect Decimus Burton, is a significant two-storey building located at No 7 Queen's Terrace. Originally constructed as the Customs House, it was the first building in the town and later served as the Town Hall. The exterior features roughcast walls, a moulded eaves cornice, and a blocking course. An elaborate ornamental iron cresting with finials adorns the southern part of the building. There are eight ranges of sash windows, with the three northern windows projecting forward. The five southern windows have moulded surrounds, and those on the ground floor include moulded cornices.

The building has two Tuscan porches with full entablatures; the northern porch has square columns and closed sides, while the southern porch features round columns and open sides with cast iron railings. The southern porch also has the same cast iron cresting as the cornice. Steps lead up to the porches, which are flanked by cast iron railings with spear finials that extend across the front of the building.