Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

Custom House, 65-67 Commercial Street and 1 Customs Wharf (former stable range), Leith, EdinburghLB26787

Status: Designated

Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Category
A
Date Added
14/12/1970
Last Date Amended
17/01/2022
Local Authority
Edinburgh
Planning Authority
Edinburgh
Burgh
Edinburgh
NGR
NT 27028 76591
Coordinates
327028, 676591

Description

Robert Reid, 1810-12; additions and alterations by William Burn, 1825. Symmetrical, neo-classical, two storey, 11-bay building, with attic storey to advanced centrepiece and end bays; single storey stable range to rear. Burn's additions include; perron staircase (external stairway with platform), single storey pavilions and single storey links to stables. Built in cream sandstone ashlar; base course, cill course to first floor, band course above, dentilled cornice; balustraded parapet between panelled and coped attic storeys; punched windows.

South elevation (Commercial Street): three-bay pedimented 'temple' centrepiece with pair of fluted Greek Doric columns set in antis (recessed) between broad piers, each pier with a niche at ground and framed square panel above. Royal arms of George III (carved from wood; painted and gilded), 'Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense' in tympanum. Two-leaf panelled door with moulded architrave and cornice; perron steps, panelled to front, with bulbous balusters and piers. Three bays and broader advanced end bay to either side. Flanking advanced single storey pavilions with window in recessed arch; moulded impost course; cornice and blocking course with raised panelled central tablet. Spearhead cast iron railings on flat ashlar bed between pavilions and centrepiece.

West elevation (Dock Place): at ground, single storey pavilion to south with large rectangular window in recessed segmental-arched panel, moulded impost course, panelled door with three-pane rectangular fanlight to right, blocking course with raised panelled tablet; coursed single storey rubble screen wall enclosing stable court to south with two small windows and door between extends to tall ashlar carriage gateway detailed as pavilion but with two-leaf boarded gates in round-headed arch. Recessed to north; piend-roofed, two-storey, three-bay end of coursed rubble stables, blind central window at first floor. First floor of main block with pair of central windows and slightly advanced outer bays.

East elevation (Waterfront): as above, but south pavilion with round-headed arch and standard window (no door); ashlar screen with five bays, panelled door to left with consoled cornice, narrow door to inner left with flanking sidelights, three windows to right. Stable pavilion with door to centre at ground.

North elevation (rear): two-storey and attic eight-bay; coursed rubble with ashlar dressings; band course, cornice and parapet to advanced single end bays only; windows to each bay of principal floors. Centre four bays advanced with attic windows and pediment. Flanking bays with round- headed loading bay breaking eaves at centre; projecting porch to third bay from left; inner right bays with projecting garage door addition at ground. End pavilions (see above).

Stable Range: coursed rubble two-storey, 12-bay range with stugged ashlar dressings; four central bays with irregular fenestration between pair of slightly advanced fronts with recessed archways (blank to left, windows to both floors to right) and blocking courses, two bays beyond and taller end bays.

12-pane timber sash and case windows. Grey slates, piended roofs; cast iron downpipes; decorative rainwater heads stamped "GIIIR".

Interior: classical theme continues, much altered by Burn. Lobby leads via tripartite doorway with elliptical fanlight to oblong central stair-hall with Imperial stair going down to ground level and up to gallery and principal floor; acanthus balusters embossed with lions rampant; oval dome on pendentives and elliptical arches with coffered soffits, opening through smaller elliptical-headed doorways to room each side. To east top-lit Boardroom, with apsidal ended meeting room beyond; to west top-lit arcaded Long Room with D-shaped room beyond. To east at ground Burn's public reception room created in single storey link with direct access; elaborate nine-compartment ceiling on bracketed cornice (fitted out as exhibition room, 1970).

Statement of Special Interest

The interior was significantly altered by William Burn, who put in the stair. In the later 20th century the building was used as storage by the National Museums of Scotland.

Custom House was acquired by the City of Edinburgh in 2015, through its

Common Good Fund from National Museums Scotland. The Scottish Historic Buildings Trust were appointed to lead the restoration of the building. It is currently in use as a multi-purpose venue and arts hub whilst long term plans are being developed (2022).

Statutory address revised and minor updates to listed building record in 2022.

Previously listed as '67 Commercial Street, Custom House, with Stable Range; EH6 6LH'.

References

Bibliography

Town Plan (imprint 1813) John Mason & William Bell. Plan of North Leith within the Regality of Canongate. Signet Library collection at National Libraries of Scotland.

Ordnance Survey map (surveyed 1852 published 1853) Edinburghshire, Sheet 2 six inches to the mile, 1st edition, Ordnance Survey, Southampton.

Ordnance Survey map (revised 1894 published 1896) Edinburghshire I.16

25 inches to the mile, 2nd and later editions, Ordnance Survey, Southampton.

NMRS EDD 132/1-4.

RCAHMS County Inventory: The City of Edinburgh (1951), 229. The Custom House, Commercial Street.

Hume, J. R. (1976) The Industrial Archaeology of Scotland. London.

F Groome, F (1895) Ordnance Gazetteer IV, Vol I. p. 482.

Patterson, D. & Rock, J. (1992) Thomas Begbie's Edinburgh. Edinburgh p. 124.

Shepherd, T.H. (1829) Modern Athens. London.

RIAS (1992) Edinburgh. p. 222.

Gifford, J., McWilliam, C. and Walker, D. (1984) The Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. pp. 462-3.

Dictionary of Scottish Architects, Custom House, Leith http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=421028 [accessed 13/01/2022]

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, Custom House

https://www.shbt.org.uk/our-buildings/custom-house/ [accessed 14/01/2022]

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.

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Printed: 29/03/2024 01:29