The Old Custom House
THE OLD CUSTOM HOUSE, KEY STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1374818
- Date first listed:
- 19-Dec-1951
- List Entry Name:
- The Old Custom House
- Statutory Address:
- THE OLD CUSTOM HOUSE, KEY STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-10-13
- Reference:
- IOE01/04717/21
- Rights:
- © Mr Dave Staveley. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1374818
- Date first listed:
- 19-Dec-1951
- List Entry Name:
- The Old Custom House
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE OLD CUSTOM HOUSE, KEY STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE OLD CUSTOM HOUSE, KEY STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Suffolk
- District:
- Ipswich (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TM 16683 44092
Details
1. 1260 KEY STREET
The Old Custom House TM 1644 SE 4/98 19.12.51.
II*
2. Erected in 1844 for the Corporation of Ipswich close to the site of the earlier custom house, it was designed by J M Clark an Ipswich architect. It is an imposing red brick building with grey gault brick dressings. The main frontage faces south towards the docks and comprises a tall single storey above a high arcaded basement with brick rustications and a stone blocking course, a central projecting Tetrastyle Tuscan portico with a pediment with sculptured tympanum and end pavilions marked by grey brick rustications. The central portico is approached by a Palladian staircase with a double flight of stone balustraded steps on each side and a deep semi-circular domed arch in the centre, with rusticated brick voussoirs and keystone and a small central doorway with massive rustications. A central panelled and studded door with a semi-circular arched head and stone architrave has 2 flanking Venetian style windows with stone surrounds under the portico. The outer windows are tall casements with stone shouldered architraves, pulvinated friezes and pediments. The end pavilions have windows with pilasters and cornices surmounted by semi-circular, domed recesses with shell ornamentation. A string course runs at window sill level with panelled brick aprons beneath the windows. The east and west fronts each have 2 storeys above the arcaded basement 3 window range, casements, in grey brick surrounds. The north front has 4 storeys. 8 window range, double-hung sashes with glazing bars, in grey brick surrounds on the 2nd and 3rd storeys and set in recessed brick panels with semi-circular heads on the ground and lst storeys. The centre part of rusticated brick breaks forward slightly with a semi-circular arched doorway and fanlight surmounted by a Venetian style window with grey brick rusticated pilasters, cornice and a voussoired brick arch. At the east end a pavilion of one window range breaks forward slightly and at the west end there is a tall square tower with 3 storeys of open arches and one with blocked arches surmounted by a clock on each of the faces, all set in recessed brick panels. The roof is pantiled with a wide overhanging eaves soffit on brackets which is carried out ever the portico and pediment and is repeated on the tower.
Listing NGR: TM1668344092
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 275488
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 12-Jun-2026 at 23:24:57.
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