IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Friars Lane, RICHMOND, TW9 1NP

Evening approaching on the Thames Path at Richmond.

Georgian house on Friars Lane, overlooking River Thames to the South-west. Grade II listed by Historic England: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1080822#contributions-banner

These boat-houses are situated below and in front of the properties in St Helena Terrace, so that the boat-house roofs form a wide terrace in front of the houses. The name 'St Helena' plainly celebrates Napoleon's capture and exile - so presumably the development dates from not long after 1815. If the boat-houses look a bit neglected and scruffy, that has long been the case - and I (for one) would hate to see the place tarted up. There was a time when many of the units were occupied by boat-hire firms, but these days not all are used for purposes connected with the river. In my photo, the riverside is so deserted that you might imagine I was out at 5am - but the view is north-west, at about 21.10 on a June evening.

This would normally be a busy spot on a summer's evening, but it had been a windy day, and for the most part a cloudy one. I spent some minutes taking photographs from this spot, and there were very few passer-by - whether walkers, runners or cyclists. But I'll admit the image doesn't tell the whole story: I was standing just a few feet from the terrace of the 'White Cross', where there was quite a crowd - cheerful and noisy. The boat-houses on the right are tucked in below the houses of St Helena Terrace - which makes for an interesting bit of townscape. A similar arrangement (houses above vaults) exists at Royal York Crescent in Clifton, Bristol - but I can't think of any further examples in the London area.

This is a most unusual little townscape. St Helena Terrace towers above the boathouses, which in turn look out across the cobbles of Riverside - toward the river which is just out of shot to the right. The name of the terrace (inscribed on the raised portion of the cornice) plainly commemorates the downfall of Napoleon and his banishment. The exact date of building is unclear, but would seem to be shortly after 1832 - when the plot was auctioned for development. The tall chimneys beyond the Terrace belong to a riverside pub, The White Cross.

On the riverfront behind the Thames Path.

A pretty terraced garden on the riverside at Richmond.

These boat houses (some of which are now stores or workshops), face the River Thames. The mud on the roadway has been left by a very high tide which occurred about two hours previously.