Balham memories
Here are memories of Balham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Balham or a Balham photo.
Drill Hall, Atkins Road.
My dad was still in the Army in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was stationed at the Drill Hall in Atkins Road. He was also a Motorcycle Display rider. Has anyone any memories of this or any photos? Dad's name was George (Nobby) Clarke, and he was a sergeant in the Royal Signals. We also had great Christmas parties there with a huge tree and a present for everyone.
This shows Powis Street in Woolwich. The large building in the middle of the photo is the RACS Co-op building, it is also the site in the distance of the first McDonalds shop in England. I was born in Balham in the late 1930s. I was working in Woolwich in 1956-1957 and have seen the decline in the area from a once thriving town.
The Green Dolphin Cafe
My grandfather bought Smiths Car Showroom after the war when it was the Green Dolphin Cafe. I can remember going to the cafe in the 1950s when I was small. I think it is now a windows showroom.
Park Court ~ Balham Park Road
My Aunt & Uncle (Ella & Cecil Forbes) lived in a two bedroom flat in Park Court in Balham Park Road from 1948 & throughout the 1950s and I spent much time staying with them as my parents ran pubs in The City. Uncle Cecil worked for Mullards as an engineering draughtsman and Auntie Ella was a 'housewife'. As they were 'well off' by comparison with 'us' they owned a 9" screen TV set which we would drive over specially from our rather seedy flat in Roehampton to watch on frequent Saturday evenings! This TV had cost them 60 guineas [HEAVILY staff discounted!] direct from Mullard's factory and 60 guineas [£63] was simply a fortune back then... Uncle Cecil had a really 'GOOD' job then and earned about £10 per week! We'd sit glued to TV until the intermission [the potter's wheel, remember?!?] when up would go the lights and tea would be served by the ladies...like being at the cinema it was!!! I SO well remember the 'old boy'... Read more
St Mary's
Whilst living in Sarsfeld Road, I went to St Mary's Cof E School in Balham High Road from 1959-1965. Mr Scott was the Head Teacher and my favourite teachers were Mr Hall and Mr Jenkins.
Hernville Road School, Balham 1938/39
I started at Hernville Road School when I was 5 in 1937 and when war broke out in 1939 we happened to be staying with my grandfather so I didn't get evacuated with the school. BUT prior to that, I have a vivid memory of being assembled and waiting in the school hall with an eiderdown fastened up with a leather belt with my name and number (1018) and a small suitcase. I had no gas mask because they were issued whilst I was at my grandfather's. Then the headmistress came in and told us we could all go home! Was this in 1938 or was it a practise for a future evacuation? Can anyone shed light on this - I've never met anyone who has a similar memory. My name then was Sellers.
Penny Train
My Great Uncle Bill looked after me occasionally and used to take me to a shop in the high street where I watched a train go round for a penny. My Grandparents lived just opposite us in Old Devonshire Road. This is my only memory of Balham as we moved soon after.
Memories of Greater London
Days of Fishing on The Pond
Born in Tooting in 1949, I lived only a walk to the top of my road to the common. Me and my friends used to play cowboys and hide up the trees to ambush my friend's sister who was always with us, all good harmless fun. As I got older I got interested in fishing and spent many a day with my bamboo rod catching tiddlers, there were some good-size fish in the pond but I only caught the small ones. I used to meet some of my mates from school and we spent all day there and then would go home covered in fish slime. Did anybody else fish the pond? Now you have to pay to fish there, even an old pond is not free, happy days.
Childhood Walk
This could be my mother and me! I was 5 in 1951 and remember visiting the pond to 'feed the ducks'. The common became a wonderful playground durig my childhood, everything from 'the wild west' to 'army battlefields'. It was safe, we would spend all day playing without fears or worries. The important thing was to avoid the 'Parkie' (Park Keeper), what a memorable age.
Running on The Common 1980s
During the '80s I lived in Streathbourne Road, just a couple of houses in from the Common. Weather permitting I would run in the evenings. One dark evening in the late autumn I ventured onto the Common. Running in the grass near the Lido, I tripped over a couple who were lying there shagging beneath a tree. I am afraid I gave the chap an awful kick in the ribs,and I took a frightful spill. When I got to my feet, the poor chap staggered to his, rubbing his side and looking fit to be tied. Needless to say we were both put out by this unfortunate turn of events, but before either of us had a chance to utter a word, I heard his girlfriend say, "Well, I never! Your mum. Dogs. Rain. Bit of an east wind. It's always something with you, isn't it?"
School
I went to school at St. Helen's School which was situated on the corner of North Side and Valley Road between 1955 - 1961. I actually lived in NORBURY and have some memories of Norbury when you open up a site for it. I hope you do.
Childhood Memories
I have fond memories of growing up in Leverson St, not far from Mitcham Lane where our local shops were. I went to Eardley Rd School & then on to Dunraven Secondary School. Spent a lot of my teenage yrs at the Locarno, Bowling Alley & Streatham Ice Rink.
One of my favourite places has always been The Rookery on Streatham Common, I spent a lot of time there as a child. Another favourite place was Tooting Bec Common, where myself & my two sisters used to go to the outdoor Swimming Pool.
At the top of Leverson St was a sweet shop called Pitts, everyone growing up there would remember that! There was also a "bomb site" us kids would play on. Of course it has now been built on. It hasn't changed that much, all the old houses are still there, although I haven't visited for about three yrs!
Most of my family lived nearby then. My sister & I would go to visit our Nan &... Read more
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- Farnham Common, Berkshire
- Worksop, Nottinghamshire
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- Grantham, Lincolnshire
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