Excise Office, Broad Street

Standing on the east side of Broad Street, the Excise Office had an entrance in it into a large yard, in which stands another brick building. The front building stands on the site of ten Almshouses, founded by Sir Thomas Gresham in 1575, and the back building, with the yard, stands on the site of Gresham College. The Excise Office is the principal office of excise in the king's dominions. Its business is conducted by nine commissioners, who collect the duties on beer, ale and other liquors; on tea, coffee and chocolate; on malt, hops, starch, candles, paper, vellum, parchment and other excisable commodities.