The Coastrider house, Ljugarn

Customs officers in the old days

The original Coastrider House was probably built around 1730 by the farmers of the surrounding parishes. Until 1827, the people of Gotland were required by the authorities to build and maintain houses and jetties for the coastriders - not exactly a popular move. Between 1728 and 1822, nine coastriders and their families lived in the house. Coastriders were customs officers at the rural harbours on Gotland that exported goods such as timber, limestone and tar. They ensured that the customs house in Visby received duty on exported goods in the same way as it would if the goods had passed through Visby.

Renovation and maintenance

In the early 1970s, the Coastriders House was completely renovated. This included replastering the walls using a traditional method that produces a vivid, uneven surface.

In the mid-1990s the house was whitewashed. The roof was tarred in 1995, and new doors fitted in 1996.

Customs museum and hostel

The new Customs House built in 1853 replaced the Coastrider's House as the customs officer's residence. The customs post closed in 1928, but Ljugarn remained a base for coastal patrols by the customs service until 1956. Both harbourside buildings have survived. The newer Customs House was converted to a hostel in 1966, while the Coastrider's House is now the Gotland Customs Museum.