Custom House, City of London
Encyclopedia
The Custom House, on the north bank of the Thames
in the City of London
was formerly in use for the collection of customs duties. It was in use for many centuries and rebuilt on a number of occasions.
In 1379 a custom house
was built at Wool Wharf by John Churchman "for the tronage of wools in the Port of London
". In 1559 this was replaced by a new building supervised by William Paulet
.
In 1666 the Custom House, along with much of the city, was destroyed in the Great Fire of London
. In 1671 Sir Christopher Wren built a new Custom House. In 1715 Wren's Custom House was again destroyed by fire. This was replaced, on the original foundations, by a building by Thomas Ripley
.
A new, much larger, Custom House was built to the west of Ripley's building in 1813. In 1814 the old building was again burned down, resulting in the explosion of gunpowder and spirits. As a result papers were retrieved from as far as Hackney Marshes
.
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
was formerly in use for the collection of customs duties. It was in use for many centuries and rebuilt on a number of occasions.
In 1379 a custom house
Custom House
A custom house or customs house was a building housing the offices for the government officials who processed the paperwork for the import and export of goods into and out of a country. Customs officials also collected customs duty on imported goods....
was built at Wool Wharf by John Churchman "for the tronage of wools in the Port of London
Port of London
The Port of London lies along the banks of the River Thames from London, England to the North Sea. Once the largest port in the world, it is currently the United Kingdom's second largest port, after Grimsby & Immingham...
". In 1559 this was replaced by a new building supervised by William Paulet
William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester
Sir William Paulet was an English Secretary of State and statesman who attained several peerages throughout his lifetime: Baron St John , Earl of Wiltshire , and Marquess of Winchester .-Family origins and early career in Hampshire:William Paulet was eldest son of Sir John Paulet of...
.
In 1666 the Custom House, along with much of the city, was destroyed in the Great Fire of London
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
. In 1671 Sir Christopher Wren built a new Custom House. In 1715 Wren's Custom House was again destroyed by fire. This was replaced, on the original foundations, by a building by Thomas Ripley
Thomas Ripley (architect)
-Career:He first kept a coffee house in Wood Street, off Cheapside, London and in 1705 was admitted to the Carpenter's Company. An ex-carpenter, he rose by degrees to become an architect and Surveyor in the royal Office of Works...
.
A new, much larger, Custom House was built to the west of Ripley's building in 1813. In 1814 the old building was again burned down, resulting in the explosion of gunpowder and spirits. As a result papers were retrieved from as far as Hackney Marshes
Hackney Marshes
Hackney Marshes is an area of grassland on the western bank of the River Lea in the London Borough of Hackney. It was incorporated into the Lee Valley Park in 1967...
.