Old Custom House

The Old Custom House in Gloucester dates from around 1700 and served as a Custom House until 1800. It has since been used for various purposes and is now offices. The building is primarily from the early 18th century, with a late 18th-century addition to the front, constructed by agreement with the City Council to provide more office space for customs officers. There is also an addition at the rear that was originally a dwelling. The structure is made of ashlar and rendered brick, topped with a slate roof.

It is a narrow rectangular block with three storeys. The ground floor features a colonnade supported by two slender cast-iron columns between ashlar corner piers, with archways at each end. Above the colonnade, the front extension is two bays wide and one bay deep, framed by shallow giant pilasters that are slightly inset at the corners, complete with moulded bases and capitals. The building is topped with a crowning entablature and a panelled parapet with moulded coping. Each upper floor has two sash windows on the front, while the sides feature a sash window on the first floor and an infilled window on the second floor. All sash windows have glazing bars arranged in a 3x4 pane configuration and are set in similar openings with moulded sills. Centrally located between the first and second floors is a weathered stone panel carved with the royal arms. The interior has not been inspected. In 1724, the Corporation agreed to provide land for either an extension or a new building.