Nos. 5, 6 And 7 Queensbury Hotel And Attached Railings

Three houses, now operating as a hotel. Built circa 1771–1773 to designs by John Wood the Younger.

Each of the three houses—numbered 5, 6 and 7—is constructed with limestone ashlar to the front elevation. The basement areas have rubble walling, particularly visible to the left (No. 5), while rear elevations employ a mix of ashlar and rubble. The roofs are parapeted mansards: triple pile to the left house (No. 5) and centre house (No. 6), and double pile to the right house (No. 7). All are covered in artificial slate. Chimney stacks are rendered in ashlar throughout: to No. 5, one stack with early clay pots sits on the coped party wall to the left and two rise from the rear; to No. 6, two stacks occupy the coped party wall to the left and one rises from the rear flank wall; to No. 7, two stacks rise from the coped party wall to the left and one truncated stack from the rear wall. Houses 5 and 6 feature cross-staircases, while No. 7 has its staircase positioned to the rear.

Each house rises three storeys with an attic storey and basement, presenting a three-window front elevation to Russell Street.

No. 5 (left house) has on the first floor three six-over-nine sashes set in splayed ovolo moulded architraves with friezes and cornices. The stone sills are lowered and supported on cut-down console brackets; wrought iron balconettes are fitted below. The second floor contains three six-over-six sashes in splayed ovolo moulded architraves with stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two six-over-six sashes in splayed reveals with stone sills and wrought iron balconettes; to the right stands a six-panel door with flush beaded and glazed panels, two containing leaded lights, topped by a three-pane overlight in a cyma moulded architrave with flat surround. The entrance is paved in Pennant stone with a wrought iron footscraper set flush to the pavement. The basement contains two six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with stone sills; a door lies beneath the crossover but is not visible. The crossover is partially infilled with render. Limestone area steps with Pennant inserts to the treads feature a wrought iron handrail. Two dormers with six-over-six sashes punctuate the roof. A band course runs above the ground floor; the eaves are finished with a modillion cornice and coped parapet.

No. 6 (centre house) has on the first floor three six-over-nine sashes in ovolo moulded architraves with splayed jambs, friezes and cornices. Stone sills are lowered and supported on cut-down console brackets with wrought iron balconettes. The second floor holds three six-over-six sashes in ovolo moulded architraves with splayed jambs and stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with splayed jambs, stone sills and wrought iron balconettes; to the right, a six-panel door with flush beaded and fielded panels (the top panels later replaced as a single fielded panel) in a cyma-moulded architrave with flat surround. Heavy console brackets support a projecting moulded cornice forming a hood above the door. A single step descends to a crossover paved with two Pennant slabs; a pair of 19th-century cast iron footscrapers is present. A 19th-century cast iron canopy spans the crossover, supported on fluted cast iron columns to the front with decorative cast iron brackets and leaded glazed panels inscribed "HOTEL QUEENSBURY HOTEL" on the sides and front. The basement contains two six-over-six sashes in chamfered reveals with stone sills, and a six-panel door (now half-glazed) beneath the crossover. One double dormer and one single dormer, both with six-over-six sashes, light the attic. A band course runs above the ground floor; the eaves finish with a modillion cornice and coped parapet. A lead hopperhead and downpipe are shared between Nos. 5 and 6.

No. 7 (right house) has on the first floor three six-over-nine sashes in ovolo moulded architraves with splayed reveals, friezes and cornices. Lowered moulded stone sills are supported on cut-down console brackets with wrought iron balconettes. The second floor contains three six-over-six sashes in ovolo moulded architraves with splayed jambs and stone sills. The ground floor has to the left two six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with splayed jambs, stone sills and wrought iron balconettes; to the right, a six-panel door with flush reeded, ovolo moulded and single glazed panel with leaded lights, set in a cyma moulded architrave with flat surround. Heavy moulded console brackets support a projecting moulded cornice forming a hood above. One step descends to a Pennant-paved crossover. The basement holds two six-over-six sashes in plain reveals with splayed jambs and stone sills; a 20th-century half-glazed door in render infilling occupies the position beneath the crossover. Render area steps with Pennant treads lead down. Two single dormers with six-over-six sashes illuminate the attic. A band course and modillion eaves cornice with coped parapet complete the elevation. A 19th-century ashlar extension with hipped roof extends up to the second half-landing. A lead hopperhead and downpipe shared with No. 8 Russell Street sit to the right of No. 7. A lead hopperhead also sits at the eaves of each house. The rear elevations, partially visible, contain plate glass windows and two-over-two sashes.

The interiors were not inspected at the time of listing.

Russell Street was developed by John Wood in association with the Assembly Rooms and the east end of Rivers Street on land forming part of Holdstock's Garden, formerly known as Russell's Close. This land was purchased by Wood and his trustee Andrew Sproule from Thomas and Daniel Omer on 30th December 1768. The three houses are attached to railings.