Nos 74-78, And No 80 (The Grey Horse Public House) And Attached Railings, Portland Street

Nos. 74-78 and No. 80, known as The Grey Horse Public House, are a row of four small townhouses that have been converted into a public house and shops. They were probably built in the late 18th century and have been altered over time. The buildings are constructed of painted brick, with No. 78 rendered, and feature a slate roof, although No. 78 has a felted roof.

The layout is double-depth, with each house being single-fronted and having back extensions. They rise to three low storeys, with No. 80 having a cellar. Each house typically has one window on the first floor, except for No. 78, which now has three 20th-century windows. No. 80 has a doorway to the left, an altered ground floor window, and railings to the former cellar area, while the others have 20th-century shops.

On the first floor, Nos. 74 and 76 each have one segmental-headed window, with the window at No. 74 blocked and the one at No. 76 featuring a sash. No. 78 has three inserted windows, and No. 80 has a two-light casement. On the second floor, each house has a wide garret workshop window. The window at No. 74 is now blocked, No. 76 retains original horizontal sliding sashes, No. 78 has been altered to a four-light casement, and No. 80 has a five-light casement. There is a large chimney stack on the front slope at the junction of Nos. 74 and 76, and a smaller one at the junction of the other pair.

At the rear, there are some similar garret windows. These buildings are included as a rare survival of small industrial dwellings in the city center and form a group with Nos. 70 and 72 to the right, showcasing the historical development of this street through their contrasting scale and type.