Customs House - Hankow - 1924
The Bund, British Concession.
The Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, later known as the Chinese Maritime Customs Service in 1912, was established in 1854. It was the only department in the Chinese Government organised on Western lines; it was staffed at the middle and senior level by predominantly British officers. As well as administering customs and excise collections, the Customs Service managed Chinese vast rivers, waterways and coastal harbours. It conducted anti-smuggling measures and policed the entire China coast at a time when China had no navy. It mapped out the coast and inland waterways including the mighty Yangtsze and assisted in postal administration and weather reporting. It established quarantine regulations to prevent the spread of sickness and was involved in financial matters.
Occupying a prominent position overlooking the Yangtsze River and at the southernmost end of the British Bund, this handsome structure remains a Hankow landmark. The design of the building went to competition and was awarded to the Shanghai-based British architects Messrs Stewardson & Spence, who also designed Shanghai's Head Post Office (see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/10514297295 ). The building continues to dominate the riverfront; with its 46m high clock tower, Henan granite columns and roughly-hewn rustication, this reinforced concrete building presents a powerful statement of dependability; the clock itself and the accompanying chimes kept time for the busy river port and city. The clock was manufactured by the Seth Thomas Clock Company of Thomaston, Connecticut.
It is not difficult to imagine CMCS officers standing on the balconies looking out at the mercantile traffic on the river. For a remarkable photo taken in 1931, go to fellow flickrite China Postcard at www.flickr.com/photos/36135997@N02/9783252664 .
The foundation stone was laid on 4 November 1922 by Sir Francis Aglen KBE, the then Inspector General of Customs. Lady Aglen placed a casket containing local newspapers and coins under the foundation stone in a ceremony attended by a large and distinguished assembly of both Chinese and foreign dignitaries.
Other CMCS Custom Houses were built in:-
Canton (1914) - see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2977776677
Shanghai (1927) - see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2857775885
Tientsin (1932) - see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/5384642838
Customs House - Hankow - 1924
The Bund, British Concession.
The Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, later known as the Chinese Maritime Customs Service in 1912, was established in 1854. It was the only department in the Chinese Government organised on Western lines; it was staffed at the middle and senior level by predominantly British officers. As well as administering customs and excise collections, the Customs Service managed Chinese vast rivers, waterways and coastal harbours. It conducted anti-smuggling measures and policed the entire China coast at a time when China had no navy. It mapped out the coast and inland waterways including the mighty Yangtsze and assisted in postal administration and weather reporting. It established quarantine regulations to prevent the spread of sickness and was involved in financial matters.
Occupying a prominent position overlooking the Yangtsze River and at the southernmost end of the British Bund, this handsome structure remains a Hankow landmark. The design of the building went to competition and was awarded to the Shanghai-based British architects Messrs Stewardson & Spence, who also designed Shanghai's Head Post Office (see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/10514297295 ). The building continues to dominate the riverfront; with its 46m high clock tower, Henan granite columns and roughly-hewn rustication, this reinforced concrete building presents a powerful statement of dependability; the clock itself and the accompanying chimes kept time for the busy river port and city. The clock was manufactured by the Seth Thomas Clock Company of Thomaston, Connecticut.
It is not difficult to imagine CMCS officers standing on the balconies looking out at the mercantile traffic on the river. For a remarkable photo taken in 1931, go to fellow flickrite China Postcard at www.flickr.com/photos/36135997@N02/9783252664 .
The foundation stone was laid on 4 November 1922 by Sir Francis Aglen KBE, the then Inspector General of Customs. Lady Aglen placed a casket containing local newspapers and coins under the foundation stone in a ceremony attended by a large and distinguished assembly of both Chinese and foreign dignitaries.
Other CMCS Custom Houses were built in:-
Canton (1914) - see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2977776677
Shanghai (1927) - see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2857775885
Tientsin (1932) - see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/5384642838