75-79, FRANCIS ROAD B16

Nos 75 to 79 Francis Road are a pair of semi-detached houses built in 1838, located in Edgbaston, Birmingham. The houses are two storeys plus a basement, with a total of four bays. The outer bays are rusticated in bands on the ground floor and are slightly advanced, featuring doors that are approached by steps and framed within a moulded eared surround. Above each door is a small arched window and a blank panel, all within a moulded surround, which is topped by a panel and flanked by Ionic pilasters supporting an entablature. The central bays contain two sash windows on both the ground and first floors, although in Nos 78 and 79, the ground floor windows have been replaced by canted bay windows. A moulded band runs at first floor level, and there is a cornice with a blocking course, although this is missing in Nos 75 and 76.

Nos 75 and 76 have had their basements converted into garages and have had attic storeys added. No 77, known as Clifton House, is also two storeys plus a basement and attic, featuring three bays with rusticated pilasters on either side. The ground floor has a central panelled door with a fanlight, flanked by Tuscan pilasters supporting an entablature, and is accessed by six steps. There are single arched sash windows on either side of the door. At the first floor level, there is a moulded string course and three flat-headed three-pane sash windows with blank panels beneath; the central window is narrower than the other two. The cornice is present, and the attic storey has been altered with three modern casement windows. The single bays of No 77 are set back slightly from the front of the block, aligning it with the pairs of semi-detached houses.