2005 © Oficina Virtual de Turismo
The dispute between the King and the Bishop over maritime and fluvial control
led the king to purchase several estates on riverbank area to settle the Crown
officials who inspected the transactions and collected taxes. As a result, Dom
Afonso IV decided to promote the construction of a warehouse to be used as a
Custom House. The Mint, already in service during the reign of Dom Fernando,
Contadoria da Fazenda (the Royal Treasure Office) and several houses for the
royal clerks would also be located in this area. The tower of Contadoria was
situated by the Custom House, facing northwest, the Mint extended eastwards
around a big courtyard, being the main building and the entrance portico
opposite the Nova Street.
The first warehouse or Custom House was expanded in the 15th century and
afterwards in the 17th and 18th centuries. The original façade faced west but
was much more drawn back than today’s. The rectangular building coincided with
the present courtyard and adjacent spaces, the latter showing important
sections of medieval masonry which stretches to the present roofs. Various
elements prove that initially there were two high towers linked by a central
courtyard. There are also some remains of the neighbouring walls and of the
doors which connected the courtyard to the exterior.
Although major repairs took place during the 15th century, the insufficient
storage space of the Custom House became a serious problem with the rapid
development of the maritime trade. In 1565 more repairs were made in the
building, but little is known on the subject.
From 1677 on a greater enlargement programme was developed, being its beginning
marked by an inscription placed on the inner courtyard. The tendency to add new
spaces to the already existing ones disappeared and the building started to be
regarded as a whole.
Most part of the services located in the towers moved to the two new storeys
added to the main façade.
The space of the inner warehouse (the present central room) was organised in
three aisles with high arcades, guaranteeing a bigger fluidity of occupation.
The last body, with a façade facing the inner of the warehouses, is one of the
most significant areas in the 2nd phase of this reform, which perhaps took
place on the third quarter of the 18th century.
This body’s west “façade” was enriched with an inner staircase with one flight
of stairs. This enrichment, which continues on the large symmetrical openings
at the main point of the staircase, seems to be justified by the wish to
dignify the place where the main administrative services were located. The
basement of this area was also used as warehouse, probably for storing goods
coming from the payment of dízima, also known as tithe, and further taxes. The
stamp house was located in the southeast angle of the central room where there
still is a device for putting two bellows and a central furnace with a big
chimney.
As a result of the reform of the 17th century, the area of the Mint’s premises
was reduced. The Mint, which in the meantime had been dismantled, was
temporally used as a public warehouse. The royal coinage was resumed in 1688,
being now the Custom House confined to the east side around a smaller courtyard
but keeping the original entrance.
Until the early 19th century no significant repairs took place. However, years
later when plans for removing the Custom House were already being made, new
warehouses were built by private investors in the inner block of the southwest
angle. After the construction of the new Custom House in Miragaia, the old
premises were abandoned. However, the State kept the inner warehouses and
alienated the front body.
The tradition that related the birth of Infante Dom Henrique (Prince Henry) to
this place led to the unveiling of a tablet over the main entrance in 1894. The
initiative came from Comissão Henriquina and the City Council. The building
thus became known as “Casa do Infante” (The House of the Prince). Towards the
end of the 19th century the last phase of changes began and lasted until the
first decades of the 20th century. The façade was rebuilt and a new storey was
added. In 1924 the House of the Prince was designated as national monument. In
the late 1950s the building, whose back body was rented, became again part of
the State and of the City Council. Between 1958-1960 it underwent deep
restoration under the guidance of Direcção Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos
Nacionais (the General Office of the National Buildings and Monuments) and
directed by the architect Rogério de Azevedo.
Since then the services of the Municipal Archive are located there. The Archive
promoted a project of study and of deep remodelling of the building. An
important Roman palace as well as better knowledge of ancient royal buildings
from the 14th century to present days were the result of the research carried
out. The relevance of the archaeological finds led to the creation of a site
museum situated by the Archive and a small Tourist Office. The architectural
project to remodel and update the Archive was designed by the architect Nuno
Tasso de Sousa.
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