Custom House

Warehouse and living accommodation, later Custom House, currently occupied by HM Coastguard, at No. 8 Custom House Quay in Weymouth.

The building dates from the late 18th century in its original fabric, with substantial modifications made in the early 19th century. It is constructed of English bond brickwork to the front elevation, with darker brick used to the quoins and jambs and diaper decoration applied; the returns and rear are rendered. The roof is slate. The building is set at an obtuse angle, returning to East Street, with the rear elevation fronting Helen Lane.

The principal Quay elevation comprises three storeys and an attic, organised two windows wide. At second floor level is an inserted square flat-roofed oriel with glazing bars to a two-light front and single-light return with transom, and a vertical boarded skirt. This oriel is flanked by six-pane centre-hung casements to cambered heads. Below these are two large twelve:twelve:twelve-pane oriels with panelled frieze, dentil cornice, and panelled mullions, set above plain skirts. The ground floor has paired four-pane sashes divided by a wide mullion, with stone sills. At the centre of the ground floor is a pair of panelled doors set within an arched opening, now with a 20th-century channelled surround and open triangular pediment on heavy consoles. Above the doors is a painted Royal Arms in cast iron. The elevation features a plinth, stone frieze mould and cornice, blocking-course, and coped parapet. The left return, rendered, has a large stack.

The East Street elevation is rendered. At second floor is a nine-pane pivot window flanked by louvres above a twelve-pane sash in a flush moulded box. The ground floor has a four-pane sash and two six-panel doors set in heavy Roman Doric pilaster doorcases. An eaves stack is positioned at the centre.

The rear elevation is divided into two sections. Both have flat-roofed dormers with slate cheeks; the central opening is a six-pane light flanked by horizontal boarding. At second floor level are three- and two-light casements with transoms to wide segmental heads, and two small four-pane lights. Below are two paired twelve-pane sashes with mullion to segmental heads. At ground floor is a blocked doorway, a broad replacement door, and a two-light window to a heavy sill. The right-hand section returns to a squared rubble double gable end and has a similar dormer but to a hipped roof, above a broad three-light with transom under a segmental head, paired twelve-pane sash, and a two-light, plus doors with louvres. Some stonework is evident in the lower walls of both rear sections, and the left-hand end has flush Portland stone quoins.

The original internal layout included the principal staircase to the right, between two main rooms, with the second floor comprising a single large storage space. Later subdivisions have altered this arrangement. Records from the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England note a moulded cornice and dado to the first-floor front room, and a roof supported by composite king-post trusses.

The building has a recorded history of use as a warehouse from 1794, when it was occupied by Messrs Robilliard and Ahier; Robilliard lived on the ground floor. Both men had ceased business by 1810. A large wheel and gibbet, now on display, formed part of the original hoist system in Helen Lane. By 1874 the property was owned by Sir Frederick Johnstone, who leased it to HM Customs. The Secretary of State purchased it in the 1970s, but HM Customs vacated the building in 1985. In July 1988 it was taken over by HM Coastguard.