Nostalgic memories of Balham's local history
Share your own memories of Balham and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 42 in total
Hi
I have just been given a batch of school reports belonging to my mother Patricia Barbary. Two reports are from Hearnville Road school 1949 & 1952. The rest is when she attended The Rosa Bassett School, Streatham. 1952-1956.
Her mother was Ethel, she also has a brother called Robert and I believe they all lived with Grandma Elizebeth(Liz) in Denby Rd (now a school Hornsby House school)
If anyone has any memories of this family it would be great to hear from you.
Many thanks
Wayne
I was told that two brothers lived, one who owned a fish paste factory and the other who owned a honey factory. They joined forces and Honeylade Factory came into being. My aunt was a Supervisor and she got my mum a job there in 1932. My mother met my Dad through his sisters who also worked there. I cannot find any trace of this factory. Can anyone help?
Does anyone have any memories of Family Brown who lived in Elmfield Road until 1954? The parents were Percy & Winifred (nee Gover) who had 3 daughters: Winifred, Doris & Joyce and 1 son: Reginald.
Hello, I'm looking for anyone who might remember Olive Alice Daniels – she was a widow who lived with her brother, Thomas Oram Durst, at 118 Balham Park Road. They both died in 1964, him in April, her in October. She was 77. I'm trying to trace her life after her husband, Henry 'Harry' George Daniels, was killed in 1917. Currently, their postcards are on display at London's Postal Museum but little is known about the couple beyond official records.
I lived in Hillier Road Battersea from 1952 - 1964 and went to Honeywell primary school. As a 15y.o in 1962 the highlight of my week was going to the Balham Hill flats with my mates to a club run by Mrs Boyland. I had several friends including Lionel Challis and big Eddie. I was mesmerised by two of the prettiest girls I ever saw, Christine Appleton and Janet Rayner who used to dance so well. If I remember rightly the ...see more
My mum Pauline Downing was born in 1931 and lived in Cavendish Road at the Tooting Bec Common end. At the beginning of ww2 she was evacuated to Cornwall whereas her older sister, Enid, went to Eastbourne. Does anyone have a family member who remembers her? Sadly she is no longer with us.
My name is david powell i was born in a house in balham 1964 55 bedfordhill rd emigrated to new zealand 1971 been in nz since im 55 now and would love to return one day to see my home again my relitives owned a pet store and my father worked in a egg stall
Back in 1966 or possibly 1967 a friend of mine, now in her seventies and with a memory that is to say the best, sketchy, went on holiday from her home town of Sheffield to Ostend in Belgium. There she met a young man called Ian who lived in Balham. This holiday romance continued on their return to the UK., she travelled down to Balham and he to Sheffield. Conducting a romance in the sixties over such distance was not easy ...see more
I lived in the house that was used as an orphanage for girls late 1890's to 1906. I have recently found out that it was called Laleham Cottage. It was situated on the corner of Rossiter Road and Ethelbert Street and the ground next to it was given over to prefabs, which extended right though to Fernlea Road. I too attending Cavendish Road School, but cannot recall the swimming pool being build. What ...see more
My Great Aunt Alice Yates bought a house here at the end of the 1890s. It may have been newly built then. It is I believe still standing but whether it is still called Harts Hill House is another matter. It was named after her parent's house in Harts Hill, Brierley Hill, Staffordshire which certainly no longer exists. Her husband died 1897 and having two very young children to raise she became a landlady.