This photograph, taken from Petersham Road, shows a row of eighteenth-century buildings with added single-storey shop fronts on Hill Rise in the Richmond Hill conservation area of Richmond-upon-Thames. The four-storey building shown with POTTERS MUSIC SHOP and A CASINO WASHETERIA at 18-20 Hill Rise was Grade II listed in 1983; listing number 1065432. Its brick flanking wall has two large advertising panels, one for GUARDS cigarettes, and the other with three images with RISE AND SHINE showing a fried egg, BEST BACON from POLAND with another breakfast themed image, and one for COURAGE ale. To the right of this building is a pair of houses dating back to c1700. Addressed as 24-32 Hill Rise, they were also Grade II listed in 1983; listing number 1357708. The single-storey shop extensions are early-twentieth century and are shown with four shops: MAISON VERBE hairdressing and beauty salon, B.GRAEBNER, HOBBIES and HANDICRAFTS (also displaying a FOR DISPOSAL through BARNES estate agents also on Hill Rise), and HERBERTS fruiterer appearing to have closed down. An entrance also leads to a PRIVATE HOTEL. All these shops are now occupied by different traders. To the right of view, the showroom of HOLBROOK MOTOR CO LTD has since been demolished exposing the full eighteenth-century frontage of Holbrook House, now used as service offices, also Grade II listed; listing number: 1286011. The driveway leading to the service area to the rear of Holbrook House now serves as residences at Holbrook Place. It is shown with a hoarding for BMC SALES SERVICE SPARES and direction to CUSTOMERS CAR PARK and PETROL, with a wall sign inviting motorists to compare prices. In the foreground, the brick wall and iron railings show the rise of the hill in comparison with Petersham Road. A post box stands prominently opposite the motor showroom and a racing bicycle is secured to the railing. The old stone trough shown on Petersham Road is still in place today, although it has lost one of the bollards shown here. There appear to be some works taking place as there is spoil piled against the wall, partly guarded off, with a broom and spade at rest.
