East Sheen Filling Station

East Sheen Filling Station sits on Upper Richmond Road as a single-structure building combining a distinctive canopy and office space under one roof. The design represents an early approach to purpose-built fuel retail facilities in Britain, with its integrated layout reflecting the practical needs of 1920s motorists.

This fuel station was built around 1926 during Britain's early motorization period and received Grade II listed status in 2012. The heritage designation recognized its value as one of the first purpose-built examples of this building type in the country.

The building reflects how automobile ownership reshaped London's daily rhythms in the early 20th century, when fuel stations became necessary stopping points for motorists navigating the city. You can see how quickly infrastructure had to adapt to serve this new form of transport.

The station is located at 567 Upper Richmond Road and is easy to access on foot with good visibility from the street. Since this is an active working facility under heritage protection, visitors should respect its function while appreciating the original architectural details visible from outside.

The design draws inspiration from American fuel station models, unusual for a British structure of this era. This transatlantic architectural influence shows how early British engineers looked across the ocean for inspiration when creating purpose-built motor facilities.

Location: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

GPS coordinates: 51.46412,-0.27805

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:43