The major buildings of Portland Street include the largest former warehouse in the city centre, Watts Warehouse (grade II* listed), the former Bank of England Building and other former warehouses on the corners of Princess Street.
From the 1840s, this part of the town began to be taken over by warehouses and during the 1850s and 1860s they predominated in Portland Street.
The 1911 Victoria County History refers to "a very fine vista of unbroken line" of warehouse buildings "chiefly constructed in brick and terra cotta".
[3] One building is grade II* listed (Watts Warehouse) and many are grade II listed, including the former Pickles Building at no.
74–80 (including the Grey Horse public house) and many old Victorian textile warehouses.