23. CUSTOMS HOUSE AND INSTITUTE BUILDING
Commercial Street between Nile Street and North Parade

The old Customs House and Institute Building built between 1877 and 1879 stand side by side on Commercial Road. They are grand old buildings sadly in need of attention (2012). There is a good view of these buildings from the light house, and an aerial view shows how the two buildings relate to one another. The northern old Customs House has the eye-carching tower, and features a centenary plaque and anotherinformative plaque. A once impressive doorway opens to Commercial Road. Further south on this wall is an Institute Building plaque and doorway. On the south-east corner we find an 1874 foundation stone, and around into Nile Street we see the ornamented quoins, and an overall view of the south façade. These buildings stand in such a prominent place in the Port, you have to wonder why they are not made into a feature ... .