56 And 57, North Quay

56 and 57 North Quay are a pair of houses with shops, dating from the 18th century, which were raised in height in the early 19th century and have undergone alterations in the 20th century. They are constructed of red brick in Flemish bond, with No.57 being rendered. The buildings have a slate roof with coped gables and originally stood at two storeys, but were heightened to three storeys in the early 19th century. The ground floor features inserted shops, with an early 20th-century shopfront for No.56 that extends across to No.55.

The exterior consists of three storeys with a seven-window range; the end windows are narrower, and the second-floor end windows are blind. The three right-hand bays have been rendered, while the other windows feature flat brick arches, gauged on the first floor. Originally, all windows were sash, but only those in the right-hand three bays of No.57 are from the 19th century; the others are from the 20th century, with first-floor windows replaced by casements. The ground floor includes two shop fronts; the left-hand shop has an early 20th-century design with pilasters, a console, and blind boxes, while the right-hand shop for No.57 is a late 20th-century installation with a high fascia.

Inside No.56, most of the transverse partition walls on the ground and first floors have been removed, but the spine wall remains, along with sections of wall panelling. Hardboard cladding on the walls and ceilings may hide additional original features. Visible interior details include cornices, dado rails, window architraves, shutters, and seats, as well as a bayed round-arched doorway on the ground floor.