Lancaster Maritime Museum

The Customs officials of the Port of Lancaster worked in the building. There was the Collector and Deputy Customer, the Deputy Comptroller, Surveyor, Land/Coast Waiter, Waiters and Searchers at Piel, Grange and Broadfleet, Tidesmen and Boatmen, Tidesmen and Weighing Porters and Riding Offiers (based at Walney Island and Pilling).  Miles Barber and Henry Tindall were employed during the 18^th Century.  The Museum has documents authorised by both of these individuals.

There was also staff based in other outstations.

James Booth, however, is known quite well. A portrait of him, painted by A. Parbell in 1835, hangs in the Collector’s Office.  He was the Collector of Customs from 1779-1836. Booth was also a talented amateur artist. He was described by artist John Harden as “a very pleasing cheerful man full of droll anecdotes and well-told”. He died on 31 January 1836 aged 81 and was buried in the churchyard of the Priory Church next to Lancaster Castle.