Quay street,
Gloucester, GL1 2JS
Gloucestershire, England
Rivalry existing between both cities' merchants set them in competition. In 1565 Gloucester made attempts for its own customs house, finally being successful in 1580. Queen Elizabeth I granting by letters Patent. Wharfage and a quay were constructed in the following years although little is known of this building. In 1610 it was part of a range of buildings with warehouse use fronting the northern part of the quay from Dockham Ditch which is now Quay Street. The earlier Custom House bears the plaque 1725, though documentary evidence suggests the premises are original Elizabethan building with a Georgian frontage.The following extract is taken from Gloucester City Borough records for 1725:"Whereas the Custom House Office in this City is necessary to be rebuild and an allowance from the Crown in ordered to be made for the same, but the said Custom House may be made more commodious. Be dedicated and taken as a part thereof and be enjoyed as a free gift from the Corporation for the more commoditious re-edifying and building the said Custom House and making the office therein more useful and to erect pillars underneath for the support of the same."