The Customs House is located in a prominent position on a gushet site to Ardrossan Harbour and is one of the last remaining early structures associated with the 19th century improvement of the harbour. Ordnance survey maps indicate that the Customs House originally formed part of a terrace including a blacksmith's yard.
The Customs House is integral to the historical development of Ardrossan Harbour which had been improved in phases during the 19th century. The Customs House was probably built during the second phase dating from 1840-46 and was the result of improvements first initiated by the 12th Earl of Eglinton and Thomas Telford in the early 19th century. According to Ayrshire Heritage Trust Report ' a customs house would have been required following the opening of the first wet dock in 1846 and the subsequent leap in trade and passengers through the port of Glasgow and the West Coast.'. Before the rise of the railways by the mid-19th century., it was expected that the harbour at Ardrossan would become the main port for Glasgow, linking itself via Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal. Coal was the major export from Ardrossan and by the 1850's with the help of the railways, exports were in the region of 260,000 tons. In 1863, the status of 'port' was bestowed on to Ardrossan Harbour and from this date was known officially as HM Customs and Excise. When works were finally complete in 1892, Ardrossan was considered an important port in the United Kingdom. The building was used continually as a Customs and Excise office until the 1950's, and thereafter in the ownership of Clydeport PLC.
About Listed Buildings
Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.
We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.
Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.
We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)
Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.
These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.
The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.
While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.
If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.
Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.
Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.