Fishy Dickensian house? (5)

I believe the answer is:

bleak

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'fishy' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bleak that I've seen before include "Dreary; cold, miserable" , "Desolate, hopoeless" , "Exposed to the elements" , "Gloomy" , "Cold, bare; a Dickensian House" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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