This view shows two eighteenth-century houses on Thames Street across the junction with the High Street once known as Lion Square, now in the Hampton Village conservation area of Richmond-upon-Thames. Both back onto the River Thames, where boat yards, a ferry, and landing stages served once popular boating and riverside leisure activities. Riverdale at 1 Thames Street dates from 1760 and is shown with its frontage and west elevation covered in climbing foliage. It presents two-storeys and an attic level to the street, but has an additional basement storey to its riverside elevation. It was Grade II listed in 1952, listing number 1261997 and the foliage has since been stripped back to reveal its brown brickwork. The stucco frontage of Lion House at number 3 presents a focal point at the end of Hampton High Street. Grade II listed in 1983, listing number 1261998, it was a hotel but is thought to have been used as offices when this photograph was taken. A substantial extension has since been added to its west flank using period style and materials and, having its own entrance, this part is called Leander House. The window bay has also been removed since to match the original window pattern, and the frontage now has grey-washed stucco with white door, surround, and band course. Lion House, or at least part of it, is shown with a FOR SALE sign through Hampton & Sons of 6 Arlington Street SW1 with the telephone number HYD:8222. There appears to be some form of boiler flue rising above its west elevation alongside its chimney stack. An adjacent sign for Peter Silver & Sons (Engineers) Ltd at 5-9 Thames Street provides evidence of the riverside boat building and engineering works behind the shops and houses on Thames Street. Benn's Alley is shown sloping down to the river between the two houses, providing access to the Hampton Sailing Club across at Benn's Eyot, thought to be named after William Benn (1829-1900) a local boat builder whose workshop is now incorporated into the renovated Constables Boathouses next to said engineering works. Two metal traffic bollards form a pedestrian island in the centre of the junction, the facing one directing drivers to KEEP LEFT.
