Custom House, Liverpool

The Custom House was a neo-classical building with an H-shaped layout, colonnaded facades, and a central dome, stretching across roughly 142 meters. The structure stood near Canning Dock and was one of the port's most important administrative buildings.

Construction began in 1828 under architect John Foster and was completed after eleven years. The building suffered severe damage during bombing raids in 1941 and was completely demolished in 1948 despite public opposition.

The building symbolized Liverpool's maritime strength and served as a key place where customs officials processed duties on goods flowing into the Mersey region. It was a working hub that shaped how the city's trade operated on a daily basis.

The site where the building once stood is not directly accessible today, as it has been incorporated into the Liverpool One shopping zone. Visitors can see the location by walking through this modern shopping center, where few historic remnants remain to mark the former structure.

The building was one of the largest and most expensive structures of its time, with a construction investment of around £230,000, which was an enormous sum back then. This financial commitment shows how central the port was to Liverpool's prosperity.