Balham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balham |
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 Balham High Road |
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 Balham
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| Population | 14,751 (2011 Census.Ward) |
| OS grid reference | TQ285735 |
| • Charing Cross | 4.5 mi (7.2 km) NNE |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SW12, SW4, SW17 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Balham is an area in south-west London, England. It has been a settled place since the time of the Saxons, an ancient Germanic people. Balham was even mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086.
The area grew a lot after the Balham railway station opened in 1856. During World War II, Balham Underground station was badly damaged by air raids. Sadly, many people who were sheltering there lost their lives.
Balham is located between four large green spaces called commons. The town centre is a busy place with many different bars, restaurants, and shops. It's a very diverse area, meaning people from many different countries and cultures live there. For example, there are large Polish, Irish, Portuguese, Somali, Pakistani, and Brazilian communities.
Some well-known places in Balham include The Bedford, a pub famous for live music and comedy. Another is Du Cane Court, a large apartment building with a unique Art Deco design. Oak Lodge School, a special school for deaf children, is also in Balham. The area has its own library and a leisure centre. Balham was also the first place in the UK to have a special pedestrian "X-crossing." Balham station is an important transport hub, connecting local trains and the London Underground.
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History of Balham
Balham is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Belgeham. The name "Balham" likely comes from old words meaning "rounded enclosure" and "homestead" or "village."
People have lived in the Balham area since Saxon times. Balham Hill and Balham High Road follow the path of an old Roman road called Stane Street. This road led all the way to Chichester. Balham appeared on maps in the 1600s under different names like Ballam or Balham Manor.
In the 1700s, wealthy people built large country homes here. However, most of the area's growth happened after the Balham railway station opened in 1856. This station was part of a line that went to Crystal Palace.
Second World War Air Raid
On 14 October 1940, during World War II, Balham tube station was badly hit by bombs. Many people were using the station as a shelter from the air raids. A bomb fell directly onto the High Road, breaking through the roof of the Underground station below. This caused water and gas pipes to burst. Around 64 people died in this tragic event.
A famous photograph from that time shows a No. 88 bus that had fallen into the large bomb crater. This incident was even featured in the novel Atonement by Ian McEwan.
Where is Balham?
Balham is located within the London Borough of Wandsworth. It includes the A24 road north of Tooting Bec and the streets around it. The Balham SW12 postcode area also covers parts of Clapham Park (also known as Clapham South) and the Hyde Farm area. These parts are actually in the London Borough of Lambeth.
The southern part of Balham, closer to Tooting Bec, is in the SW17 postcode. This area includes the large Art Deco apartment building called Du Cane Court.
Balham is surrounded by four important green spaces in south London:
- Clapham Common to the north.
- Wandsworth Common to the west.
- Tooting Graveney Common to the south.
- Tooting Bec Common to the east.
These last two are often called Tooting Common together.
Other nearby areas include Tooting, Streatham, Brixton, Battersea, and Clapham South.
Shops and Businesses
Balham's town centre is a lively place with many different shops, restaurants, and bars. You can find both large chain stores and smaller, independent shops. There are also local services like coffee houses and brasseries. For parking, there are two car parks available for visitors.
People and Culture
Balham is a very diverse area, meaning it has people from many different backgrounds and cultures. It also has a growing number of professional middle-class residents.
The Polish community in Balham has grown a lot since 2006. However, Balham has been a key centre for Polish people in London since World War II. The White Eagle Club is a busy Polish community centre. The Polish Roman Catholic Church of Christ the King is also a central part of the community.
Other large communities in Balham include Irish, Portuguese, Somali, Pakistani, and Brazilian people.
Famous Places in Balham
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- The Bedford is a well-known pub on Bedford Hill. It's famous for hosting live music and comedy shows. Many famous comedians have performed there, including Stephen K Amos, Omid Djalili, Harry Hill, Eddie Izzard, Al Murray, and Catherine Tate. The pub has won several awards for its entertainment. In 1876, the pub (then called the Bedford Hotel) was involved in a famous unsolved mystery.
- Du Cane Court was once the largest apartment building in Europe built for private residents. It has 676 flats, from small studios to large penthouses. Famous people like comedian Tommy Trinder and actress Dame Margaret Rutherford have lived there. Scenes from the TV show Agatha Christie's Poirot were also filmed in the building.
- Oak Lodge School is a secondary school for deaf children aged 11 to 19. Students from all over London attend this school.
- Impressions of Balham are four bronze artworks on a brick wall on Balham Station Road. They show local people and everyday scenes. These artworks were created by Christine Thomas and Julia Barton and put up in 1991.
- Balham has its own public library and a leisure centre for sports and activities.
- The UK's first pedestrian diagonal X-crossing was installed in Balham in 2005. This special crossing allows people to walk diagonally across an intersection at the same time. A similar crossing was later put in at Oxford Circus in London.
- The world's first "intelligent" pedestrian crossings have also been tested near Balham station. These crossings use technology to make walking safer.
- A prominent neon sign that says "Roberts for Ekcovision" on Bedford Hill was restored in 2022. It was originally put up by an electrical shop in the 1950s.
Transport
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Balham station is a key interchange point for transport. It connects National Rail train services with the London Underground. The station is in London fare zone 3. From Balham, you can easily travel to the City of London and the West End. Balham Underground station is on the Northern Line.
Clapham South Underground station is also very close to Balham. It is located exactly where Clapham, Battersea, and Balham meet.
Several bus routes serve the Balham area. These include routes 155, 249, 255, 315, 355, and the night bus route N155.
Famous People from Balham
Many notable people have connections to Balham:
- John Marco Allegro, an archaeologist.
- Ray Cattouse, a former British boxing champion.
- Gail Elliott, a fashion designer and former model.
- Percy Fender, a famous cricket player for Surrey and England.
- Fred again.., a singer, songwriter, and music producer.
- Mel Gaynor, the drummer for the rock band Simple Minds.
- Ainsley Harriott, a well-known TV chef.
- Jimmy Hill, an English footballer, manager, and broadcaster.
- Alan Knight, a footballer.
- Jamie Lawrence, a footballer.
- Eric Maxon, an actor from Shakespearean plays and early films.
- Hannah New, an actress who starred in the TV series Black Sails.
- Margaret Rutherford, a famous actress.
- Captain Sensible, a singer and musician.
- John Sullivan, the writer of the popular TV show Only Fools and Horses.
People Who Lived or Worked in Balham
- Adele, the famous singer and songwriter, went to Chestnut Grove School.
- Peter Baynham, a screenwriter.
- Sarah Beeny, a property developer and TV presenter, used to live here.
- Marcus Brigstocke, a comedian and actor.
- Jon Craig, a journalist.
- Jack Dee, a comedian, actor, and writer, used to live in Balham.
- Gracie Fields, a famous actress, singer, and comedian, was a former resident.
- Stewart Lee, a comedian and writer.
- Malcolm McLaren, a band manager and musician, lived here with Vivienne Westwood.
- Rachel Parris, a comedian, musician, and actress.
- DBC Pierre, a novelist, used to live in Balham.
- Arthur Smith, a comedian.
- Tommy Trinder, a comedian and former chairman of Fulham Football Club, was a former resident.
- Vivienne Westwood, a famous fashion designer, lived here with Malcolm McLaren.
"Balham, Gateway to the South"
For many years, Balham was known because of a funny comedy sketch called "Balham, Gateway to the South". This sketch was written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden, with Peter Sellers as the narrator. It made fun of travel films that showed exotic places. Instead, it highlighted the supposed tourist attractions of Balham in post-war Britain. The title probably came from an old railway poster that said "Gateway to the Continent."
In 1979, Micky Dolenz from The Monkees directed a short film based on the sketch. Robbie Coltrane played many different roles in it. The film was shown in 1981. As Balham became more popular and house prices went up, the jokes about it became less common.
Balham Group
In 1932, a group called the Balham Group was formed. They were the first British Trotskyist group, which means they followed the ideas of Leon Trotsky. They were later expelled from the Communist Party of Great Britain and formed their own group called the Communist League.
Images for kids
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Original "Roberts for Ekcovision" neon sign on Bedford Hill (c.1985)
See also
In Spanish: Balham (Londres) para niños
