Imperial Maritime Customs House (first building)

Title : Imperial Maritime Customs House (first building)

Topic : Virtual Shanghai

Location : Shanghai: International Settlement

Date (start) : 1857

Estimated dates : 1857-1891

Nature : B&W Photo

Support image : Book

Information data : The first building of the Imperial Maritime Customs was erected in 1857. It was in the form of a Chinese temple and was characteristic of the yamens (imperial offices) built at that time. The building was demolished in 1891 and a new Customs House was built. It was a brick building with a centrally placed five-story clock tower (33 m). Its red brick wall with facings of green stone were reminiscent of a British town hall in the Tudor style. Eventually, a new building was erected in 1925-1927, also with a clock-tower. When the latter was demolished, the old clock "Big Ben" was put into the present tower. (Fletcher, 1987, 1239)

Keywords : building;customs;house

Keywords (fr) : bâtiment;douanes;maison

Street name : Bund