19. Customs House

This plaque is located above the main door of the Customs House which is at the north end of the Town Bridge.

On the 1721 map of Peterborough a building is shown roughly on the site of the Customs House, but at right angles to the river instead, so clearly the current building was not then in existence.

Nor is it to be seen on the “South West Prospect of P’boro” published in 1731, and so therefore the present building clearly post-dates 1731.

The Customs House was probably built in the mid-18 th century, and could be connected with the improvement of the river.

By 1713 the River Nene was navigable from the Port of Wisbech up to Alwalton; by 1737 it was possible to reach Thrapston. Trade on the river was in building materials and agricultural produce, and the men who traded in these goods were termed ‘general merchants’.

Such as Simpson &Mewburn, who occupied the Customs House site in 1816 when it was described as “house, counting-house, granary, yard, etc”. These “general merchants”continued to be the occupiers down to c1874.

Exactly what the ‘Customs House’ was being used for between c1874 and c1900 is unclear. A document of 1888 indicates that it was occupied by a boat builder, Richard Skelton.

In 1903 another boat builder (and hirer of pleasure boats), a Mr Holland, is the occupier. He is followed c1908 by John Hammond who, with his family, continued to live there into the 1930s.

The “Embankment Scheme” (bus station, swimming pool, public gardens) necessitated putting a road behind the ‘Customs House’. Only then, once demolition has taken place, is the building recognised as particularly important,becauseitbecomes a much more visible and picturesque landmark.

When it is noticed at all before 1934 it is simply called the “old lighthouse” or “toll house”. In none of our research have we identified any connection with the Customs Service. Peterborough is not known to have been a port, so only Excise Officers were stationed here, and their offices were elsewhere in the city.

The ‘Customs House’ was acquired by the Fitzwilliam family in 1811 and remained in their ownership until sold to the city council in 1949 (the Sea Cadet Unit having been the occupiers since 1942).

This plaque is the nineteenth in a series of twenty blue plaques recently installed in the city centre by Peterborough Civic Society.

Further details about all the plaques can be found in theaccompanying leaflet available at the Visitor Information Centre in Bridge Street or via the society’s website.