The building is three storeys high plus attic space. Brick, painted dark brown. It has a poor quality shopfront at ground floor, three large windows at first floor, 3 smaller windows at second floor and rooflights in the attic.
The building has previously been dismissed as a post-war rebuild because its High Street West elevation has definitely been rebuilt. However further examination in 2018 after the removal of detritus has revealed that this is the original late 18th or early 19th century building, and only the High Street West elevation has been rebuilt. The building’s plan of two rooms per floor, including two in the basement (with an extended chimneybreast for the back kitchen), and a hallway to the east with staircase to the rear is identical to that of No. 170-171. Much of the internal detailing has been lost, however, the render on its rear elevation has decayed enough to reveal the original construction, in uncoursed stone rubble with fine red bricks used to form window jambs and radiating headers. This is consistent with other buildings of the later 18th and early 19th centuries in Sunderland, and with the use of brick and stone in combination observed in the north basement wall and area of No. 170-171. Its rear elevation also provides a guide to the original fenestration of the three buildings, with one window, currently occupied by 19th-century plate glass sashes, lighting the back room on all three storeys and a further window lighting the stair (the latter opening was subsequently widened to form the access to the later outshot). Behind the boarded windows of the first floor front room lie late 19th-century plate glass horned sash windows, suggesting a greater retention of historic fabric even on this side of the building than previously thought.
Robson's Plan of Sunderland and Bishopwearmouth 1817 shows the property but Raine's Eye Plan of 1790 does not, indicating that the original terrace was built sometime between 1790 and 1817. John Rennie's map of 1819-1822 shows a small separate building to the rear of 174-175, perhaps a workshop or independent dwelling.
Sunderland's Commercial Directory of 1820 lists Nos. 174-175 was being occupied by Thomas Graham, bootmaker and Anthony Dobbing, hat maker. In 1857 No. 174 was the School Of Design (secretary was T Dixon). No. 175 was Forster & Co, cheese monger. In 1871 No. 174 was the office of the South Pontop and South Derwent Colliery, J Ayre & Co. shipbrokers and Hamilton & Co. shipbuilders. Goad's Insurance Plan of 1894 shows Nos. 174-175 as J. E Cannery's Oyster Saloon. The building had a single storey extension lit by a roof lantern, with an adjoining two storey structure. To the south was a brick tenement block marked 'Tens' facing onto Little Villiers Street. By 1910 G. Dirr, pork butcher, was at Nos. 174-175. In 1921 it was a hairdressers. The tenement block to the rear had disappeared by 1939.

In the 18th century it was a suburb of the medieval town, with three-storey brick houses. Old deeds mention the number of riggs each medieval plot contained - a reminder of town fields here, outside the town wall. At the north end, the proportions of these houses may be discerned above garish modern shop fronts. Further south the 20th century takes over. Large shops were developed here in the early 1930s. British Home Stores (now Primark) on the east side, was built in 1967, replacing a 1931 Art Deco block for C&A. On the Northumberland Road façade, there was a large coloured relief by H & J Collins, 1974, depicting scenes from Newcastle's history. Across the street, the 1970s Marks & Spencer is concrete encrusted with grey chippings. Next the ramp to Eldon Square shopping centre (HER 9787). It's side wall is blank apart from sculpture salvaged from 1970s demolitions (old library 1881, YMCA 1889 and old town hall 1858-63). On the west side of Northumberland Street, a former Boots chemists shop at No. 45 1912 (HER 8784). Further south, Fenwick's department store (HER 9917). On the east corner with Queen Street is a small early C19 house-turned-shop with pargetting added in 1953. To the south, the end of Northumberland Street is marked by Ray Smith's sculpture Heralds (HER 10979), 1997-9. The crossing at Blackett Street was the site of Pilgrim Street Gate on the town wall. Northumberland Street was pedestrianised in ?1998.

University of Northumbria at Newcastle. Formerly the Polytechnic founded in 1969, which incorporated Rutherford College of Technology. It has adapted some older buildings (Sutherland Building HER 6240, College House HER 6247, Riding School HER 6251, Burt Hall HER 5172, Trinity Building HER 6264) and has several C20 new builds (HER 9771 Ellison Building). Paths north of Northumberland Road lead through to an irregular courtyard within university buildings designed by the City Architect. Much use of dark brick here, including the library on the west side. On the north side the former Sandyford Building, 1960s, remodelled in 2007 by Red Box Design Group for Newcastle College. Dark glazing or zinc cladding and solar screens of steel. Many more buildings further north. South of the library is the University Gallery Baring Wing of 2004 by Carey Jones. In front a sculpture by Nico Widerberg, Pillar Man, a tall bronze (2004). Also a polished aluminium abstract sculpture by Austin Wright, 1981, against the blank wall of the library complex. East of the Central Motorway via a cable-stay footbridge is the City Campus East, 2007 by Atkins. Glass and steel-clad buildings with mesh solar screen panels make the maximum use of natural light. Landscaping by Insite Environments.

Church of St. Peter by John Dobson, Gothic, 1840-3. Demolished in the 1930s to make way for the Church of the Divine Unity built in 1938-40 (HER 6245). Materials from St. Peter's were reused in the north aisle and vestry of St. Michael's in Byker added to the 1862-3 church in 1936.

William Boutland Wilkinson (born in St. Peter's in 1819) lived in No. 5 Ellison Place (HER 9102). In 1854 he built a pioneering patent reinforced-concrete cottage in the garden. The concrete was reinforced using rope. Wilkinson died in 1902. His family continued to live at No. 5 until around 1917. The concrete cottage was demolished in 1954. William Boutland Wilkinson is widely acknowledged and cited as the inventor of reinforced concrete. Despite having patented the technique, there was a delay of a few years before he constructed the servants’ cottage to demonstrate the principle. The technique was similarly developed by others and there is an academic debate regarding who was the acknowledged “expert” in this technique. What is without doubt, however, is that he patented the technique first and he enjoyed a substantial and considerable reputation for his successful business.

Late C18 brick terraces, recognisably Georgian despite insensitive shopfronts. A fragment of North Street (north-south) and Saville Row (east-west), 1770s, described as a 'retired and elegant street' in 1827. Some moulded window keystones. South side rebuilt 1970s. Saville Row named after Sir George Saville (Colonel of West York Militia) a popular figure who resided here.

1989-92 by Hugh Martin & Partners. The west part is stone with simplified classical detail and an uncomfortably proportioned dome to the atrium. It respects Grainger's work but is unconvincing because the form is at odds with style. Heavy-looking Art Nouveau ironwork at the entrance and in the dome. The east part has a dome of glazed lacy metal and picks up some motifs from the 1930s white-faience building (Burton's) it replaced. Between them are three tall narrow listed facades, No. 30 is by Marshall & Tweedy 1902 (HER 8904), Nos. 22 (HER 9017) and 18 (HER 9142) are by James Cackett 1892 and 1895 {McCombie}.

Tightly clustered group of tall office and hotel buildings by DEWJO'C 2006. Inward-facing to a courtyard, with stair-towers, projecting eaves and varied window types.

1996-2000 by Terry Farrell & Partners on part of the Cattle Market (HER 5066) site. Two curved buildings on an ovoid plan, with gaps where Scotswood Road formerly cut across. To the north-west the Bio-Science Centre, to the east Newcastle University and NHS Institute of Human Genetics, then a lower conference centre abutting the sinuous green roof of the Life Science Centre, which houses exhibitions, lecture theatre, games and interactive displays. Varied materials - render, glass, glass bricks, polished blockwork. In Times Square, Charles Jenck's sculpture is a double helix.

Stone and brick warehouse built 1906 for Hunter & Nesbitt by Frederick T Walker. Four pilastered storeys, pedimented central bay, door framed by long brackets.