The Customs House, South Shields
Encyclopedia
The Customs House is an arts venue in South Shields
, South Tyneside
, North East England
. It is the only non-amateur theatre in the borough, the local arts development agency, the largest gallery and, until recently, the only cinema.
When the Daltons Lane warehouses were refurbished just a few years ago the builder found old mortuary slabs. With further research it was discovered that the building had previously been a morgue. The flats in front of this building were once a police station and it was concluded that any bodies found in the river in Mill Dam during that time were then transported into the morgue directly behind the station.
The Customs House was acquired by the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation
as part of the redevelopment plans, along with the Daltons Lane warehouses. Both are leased to The Customs House Trust on a 99 year lease with a peppercorn
rent. With the demise of the Development Corporation, the freehold of both buildings transferred to South Tyneside
MBC.
The Customs House is managed by The Customs House Trust, a company limited by guarantee
with charitable status
. The founding members of the Trust were South Tyneside MBC, Tyne and Wear Development Corporation and Northern Arts and each had the right to nominate two members to the Board. The current Executive Director of the Customs House is Ray Spencer, who has been in the position for seven years.
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
, South Tyneside
South Tyneside
South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England.It is bordered by four other boroughs - Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead to the west, Sunderland in the south, and North Tyneside to the north. The border county of Northumberland lies further north...
, North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
. It is the only non-amateur theatre in the borough, the local arts development agency, the largest gallery and, until recently, the only cinema.
History
The Customs House was established in 1848 at Mill Dam.When the Daltons Lane warehouses were refurbished just a few years ago the builder found old mortuary slabs. With further research it was discovered that the building had previously been a morgue. The flats in front of this building were once a police station and it was concluded that any bodies found in the river in Mill Dam during that time were then transported into the morgue directly behind the station.
The Customs House was acquired by the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation
Tyne and Wear Development Corporation
The Tyne and Wear Development Corporation was established in 1987 to develop land on the banks of the River Tyne and the River Wear in England. Its flagship developments included the regeneration of the East Quayside in Newcastle, Royal Quays in North Tyneside and St Peter's in Sunderland. During...
as part of the redevelopment plans, along with the Daltons Lane warehouses. Both are leased to The Customs House Trust on a 99 year lease with a peppercorn
Peppercorn (legal)
A peppercorn in legal parlance is a metaphor for a very small payment, a nominal consideration, used to satisfy the requirements for the creation of a legal contract. "A peppercorn does not cease to be good consideration if it is established that the promisee does not like pepper and will throw...
rent. With the demise of the Development Corporation, the freehold of both buildings transferred to South Tyneside
South Tyneside
South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England.It is bordered by four other boroughs - Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead to the west, Sunderland in the south, and North Tyneside to the north. The border county of Northumberland lies further north...
MBC.
Facilities
The building comprises a theatre of 441 seats, a 145 seat studio, a gallery, a restaurant, a bar, a box-office, and a community room that holds 100 people. The offices, rehearsal room and Community Room are located in refurbished warehouses running alongside the main building (Daltons Lane).The Customs House is managed by The Customs House Trust, a company limited by guarantee
Company limited by guarantee
In British and Irish company law, a private company limited by guarantee is an alternative type of corporation used primarily for non-profit organisations that require legal personality. A guarantee company does not usually have a share capital or shareholders, but instead has members who act as...
with charitable status
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
. The founding members of the Trust were South Tyneside MBC, Tyne and Wear Development Corporation and Northern Arts and each had the right to nominate two members to the Board. The current Executive Director of the Customs House is Ray Spencer, who has been in the position for seven years.