Leith is located on the shore of the Firth of Forth and has been a seaport since at least the 13th century. It is a place where people have arrived and departed over the centuries including significant historical figures such as Mary Queen of Scots and George IV. Leith has a longstanding maritime tradition and today it is a vibrant district with a creative culture. Custom houses were built in major ports for the payment of dues on goods traded through them. Leith’s Custom House is the oldest in Scotland and set a high standard for others to follow. The A-listed Georgian building was designed by Robert Reid in a neo-classical style and was constructed between 1810-12 with alterations by William Burns in 1825. Custom House was acquired by the City of Edinburgh in Spring 2015, through its Common Good Fund from National Museums Scotland who had used the building as storage with no public access for over 30 years.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, a national charity saving buildings at risk for everyone, is working to develop a project which will breathe new life into Custom House for the benefit of you and future generations by giving this building the presence it deserves back in the heart of Leith.

In the short term, Custom House has been opened up so people can enter and use it and it is now providing interim venues for a wide range of activities: artists’ and designers’ studios, offices, an art school, meeting rooms and a gallery. The Cruiser Store (behind the main building) now known as Custom Lane, is providing space designers, local craftspeople and makers, a cafe, gallery and shop as we explore the future potential of the building.

As part of the process of understand-ing the building we are exploring its history in detail, both from published records and from reminiscences, such as an oral history project that recorded the memories of former Custom House workers.

SHBT’s first step is to undertake a Feasibility Study which will be done following extensive consultation to explore the potential uses and users that the building can accommodate. This will be worked up to a fully costed scheme for the Capital Project which will include restoring the building to its former glory, installing new energy-efficient services, under-taking alterations and provision of facilities to ensure that the building is fit for purpose in the 21st century.

SHBT is at the start of our fundraising campaign to save this important building and have a long way to go. If you are able to help our campaign by donating to the Custom House project, please complete and return a donation form, call our office or visit our website for more information.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC034507

Scottish Historic Buildings TrustRiddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG0131 510 8789 info@shbt.org.uk www.shbt.org.uk

Custom House, Leith65-67 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6LH

0131 220 1232customhouse@shbt.org.uk www.shbt.org.uk

Custom House,LeithLearn more about this significant A-listedbuilding and help secure its future for thebenefit of the people of Leith, Edinburghand beyond

Historic image of Custom House Front elevation of Custom House Pediment detail

CUSTOM HOUSE, COMMERCIAL STREET, LEITH: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 16 July 2019

Richard Murphy Architects appointed to design vision for Leith Custom House

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) and the City of Edinburgh (CEC) are delighted to announce the appointment of award winning practice Richard Murphy Architects to undertake a feasibility study to secure the future for the Custom House for the benefit of the community of Leith and beyond.

The feasibility study will develop the long-term masterplan for the building. Key to this will be consultation with the community in Leith, which will continue throughout the feasibility study process. The study will consider a range of options to deliver a financially sustainable model for the building in the long term, and will include a display of a number of key objects from the Museum and Galleries Leith collection. It is anticipated that the feasibility study will be completed by the end of 2019.

Una Richards, Chief Executive of Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, said:

“The work that SHBT has undertaken so far to bring the building to life and draw people to the site has been very successful. As a result, Custom House is now a vibrant artistic hub, and we have brought new life to the Shore and to Commercial Street. This will continue to grow as the capital project to restore the building is developed. The feasibility study will set out the future vision for the Custom House and will see it given its place back in the heart of Leith, for the community”.

Cllr Donald Wilson, Convener of Culture and Communities for the City of Edinburgh Council, said:

“This is an important moment for Custom House and the Leith community. The building and the surrounding area share a rich history, with Custom House once acting as the main site of imports in Leith. The appointment of Richard Murphy Architects is the next step in developing the long-term masterplan for the future of building to the benefit of the Leith Community and beyond.”

The Custom House was bought by the City of Edinburgh Council in 2015 using Common Good funding. Taking a building which has been used as a store for the last 30 years, SHBT has transformed the building into a creative hub, providing studios for artists and creatives as well as meeting and community spaces including in Custom Lane - a coffee shop, gentlemen’s outfitter, gallery and community space and the Edinburgh Tool Library. SHBT also provides space to host the Leith Market every Saturday in the Car Park adjacent to the building selling a range of produce, gifts and crafts as well as food stalls.

Since taking over the building, the local community have been welcomed and encouraged to visit and make use of the building. This has resulted in over 10,000 visitors in addition to specific open public events. Informal consultation has taken place with members of the community at a number of open days to canvas opinions on the longer-term vision for the building.

Richard Murphy Architects Director Bill Black:

‘Richard Murphy Architects are delighted to have been selected to work with SHBT on developing a truly exciting future for the Leith Custom House. Working creatively with historic buildings is something that has held a long fascination for us and is an important part of developing and maintaining our city’s heritage. We look forward to the challenges that this study will explore and the opportunities it can bring for the people of Leith.’

For further information please contact Maggie Wright on 07801 710360 / maggie.wright@mwa.co

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is a Charity and Building Preservation Trust with over 40 years’ experience saving derelict and redundant buildings throughout the whole of Scotland. Everyone has driven or walked past a forlorn and unloved historic building at some time. You may have wondered why it isn’t being used or why doesn’t someone do something with it? The answer is often complex and the solutions equally so. It takes a special group of people to identify a way forward and restore these buildings to the benefit of the community. SHBT is a dynamic and innovative charity that does just that. www.shbt.org.uk

Richard Murphy Architects has considerable experience in the Arts, Education, Housing, Health, Public and Community Use and Masterplanning and has won an unprecedented 24 RIBA Awards. From the offices in Edinburgh, they have been involved in projects across the UK, Ireland, Europe and Sri Lanka. The practice goals are to make architecture equally of its place and of its time, looking equally are careful contextual responses to designing within and adjacent to existing buildings and constructing new buildings within the contexts of established landscape and urban patterns. www.richardmurphyarchitects.com

The Custom House, Leith is the oldest Custom House in Scotland, designed by Robert Reid in a neo-classical style, it was constructed between 1810 and 12 and had later alterations in 1825 by William Burns. Leith is located on the shore of the Firth of Forth and has been a seaport since at least the 13th century. It is a place where people have arrived and departed over the centuries including significant historical figures such as Mary Queen of Scots and George IV. Leith has a longstanding maritime tradition and today it is a vibrant district with a creative culture.

Your Donation CUSTOM HOUSE, LEITH

Data Protection: SHBT needs the personal data you provide on this form for the purposes of processing your donation. All this information is held securely by the Trust and will be treated confidentially in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. We will not disclose this information to other parties unless permitted or required by law. We may contact you about fundraising programmes and SHBT events. If you have made a Gift Aid Declaration we are required to share your details with HMRC to reclaim Gift Aid on your gift. Registered Charity No SC034507. Enquiries please telephone: 0131 510 8789 *By completing this section, the donor agrees that should there be an excess of funds for this project and no additional costs arising, as the result of a successful fundraising appeal, SHBT may use this donation to fund relevant activities in line with its objects and Donor Charter.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is a charity that secures the future of important historic buildings across Scotland. We expertly restore them for the nation and find new uses to regenerate local communities and the historic environment. Custom House, Leith is a property of great historic significance and potential. SHBT aims to provide a future for the building and restore it for the benefit of the community. We rely on donations to do this work and over the last 35 years we have worked on over 20 major projects to ensure that Scotland’s built heritage continues to play a working role in our communities.

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