Custom House - Scottish Historic Buildings Trust
Edinburgh
The grand Georgian Custom House has dominated Leith’s Shore for two centuries. Completed in 1812, the building retained its original use until 1980 when it became a museum store, before being saved for the city when the Council stepped in to buy it in 2015, with the goal that it would become home to a museum for Leith. Scottish Historic Buildings Trust was tasked with giving the building life whilst also developing the plans for its future use as a cultural and heritage venue. As work picks up pace for its restoration and transformation in the coming years, it has become a thriving hub for the creative industries in Leith.
Custom House is all about reviving arts and heritage, through the creative studios and our plans for a museum for Leith. We are reimagining what an historic building has to be and forging an exciting path where Leith Museum will be digital-led, with an infinite collection that is not bound by glass cases, but only constrained by the stories people have to share. At our Doors Open Days events, we want people to feel inspired by artists, get hands-on with activities, and share their ideas, objects and tales which may become part of our brand new museum collection.
From your cupboard to our collection: We’re creating a digital collection of Leith’s treasures for the future Leith Museum, and at our ‘Antiques Roadshow’ style event we want YOU to bring items connected with Leith’s history along to Custom House. From paintings to postcards, films to photos, mugs to magazines, dog collars to documents, recipes to records, we want to see them, hear the stories behind them, and if possible, we’ll even get them digitised for the new Leith Museum Collection – YOUR collection.
Open studios: Drop into the artist studios in Custom House and meet the makers in the place where they get creative. For all: Guided tours: Discover the story of the oldest and largest Custom House in Scotland, and the exciting plans for its future, in these special tours.
Guided tours: Discover the story of the oldest and largest Custom House in Scotland, and the exciting plans for its future, in these special tours.
Tours at 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm.
For families: Get creative as you take inspiration from Leith’s history, creating your own provost hat, just like the one worn when Leith had its own provost over a century ago!
Photo credit: Jodie Mann Photography
Facilities
Additional Access Information
Wheelchair access to ground floor only.
Accessible entrance is through the rear Loading Bay via Leith Market and through the Custom House Gallery via ramp access. Please speak to a member of staff on arrival for ramp access.
Gallery
Key Information
Building tours can be booked by emailing info@shbt.org.uk - please specify time when booking.
Tours at 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm.
Where to find us
Address
- Custom House
- 65-67 Commercial Street
- Edinburgh
- EH6 6LH