5 and 6 Bruce Grove

Pair of houses dating from between 1789 and 1798, with later alterations and additions.

These attached houses face east to Bruce Grove, with number 5 to the south and number 6 to the north. They are constructed of stock brick with brick chimney stacks. The two houses share hipped M-shaped slated roofs, divided by a row of brick chimney stacks running north to south. A separate hipped roof covers a bay to the south-east of number 5.

Both houses are three storeys with basement and present a symmetrical frontage, each three windows wide. A sallied doorway is set within a wide round-headed brick arch to the outer bay of each house. A stuccoed eaves cornice supported by paired blocks beneath a blocking course runs along the top of the frontage. The junction between the houses is marked by a narrow projection in the form of a pilaster. The windows have gauged flat brick arches; the principal-floor windows hold six-over-six sash frames, some thought to be original, while the second-floor window openings are square with three-over-three sash frames.

The doorway of number 5 has been modified, with an enlarged fanlight fitted with decorative coloured glass and blocked sidelights flanking the door. A late 20th or early 21st-century fascia has been added above the door. The doorway of number 6 appears to remain as originally designed, with a stuccoed inner arch and fanlight. Both houses have six-panel doors approached by three steps with wrought-iron hand-rails with scrolled detailing; the railings to number 5 are partially lost. Area railings are thought to be replacements.

To the south of number 5 is an additional bay, slightly set back, with a single wide tripartite window at both first- and second-floor levels. The eaves cornice continues across this bay. At ground-floor level is a door opening with a 20th-century concrete lintel. Attached to the elevation to the north is a functional late-20th-century single-storey addition with garage doors, which may indicate a former carriageway behind, converted to garage use. Historic mapping indicates the presence of building filling the gap between this bay and number 4 Bruce Grove; until 2016 or 2017 a single-storey element occupied this position, clearly much if not completely rebuilt.

To the north of number 6 is a two-storey bay with a square bay window at ground-floor level; a straight joint in the brickwork indicates this element is the result of rebuilding. Running to the north is Champa Close, which originally fell within the building plot of number 6. Historic mapping indicates a structure in this position, in line with the house, apparently providing access to the rear; the flank walls to either side of Champa Close show the scars of the gabled roofs of lost low buildings.

To the rear, the main section of each house is two windows wide. The windows to number 5 have segmental arches and those to number 6 have flat arches. A large double-height semi-circular bow extends across the northern part of number 5. Both rear elevations are obscured at ground-floor level by later accretions.

Each house originally had an outer range believed to have served as a carriage house and stable. The Tithe map suggests these were originally slightly detached; they have certainly been subject to alteration and rebuilding. Both houses have alterations and extensions to the rear.