Balham
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Map of London
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
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Balham books (15 available)
Balham memories
Read and share memories of Balham and London inspired by Frith photos
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.
Contributed by Mrs C Fanning
London memories
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.
A memory of Balham contributed by Mrs C Fanning
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.
A memory of Tooting Bec contributed by Martin Foulser
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 ...read more here
A memory of Tooting Bec contributed by Donald Campbell
Extracts From Balham & London books
There has probably been a
formal market at Kingston
since at least Saxon times;
a series of charters have
been granted by royalty
since the 13th century,
giving it official status. The
charter granted by King
Charles I gave Kingston
the right to ban any other
market within seven
miles; this right has been
used in recent times to
stop markets operating in
Putney, a little over four
miles away. The Market
Hall was opened in 1840.
An extract from from"Kingston upon Thames Photographic Memories".
The town of Kingston
was awarded County
Town status in 1893,
which it retained even
after becoming a London
Borough in 1964. However,
the County Town status
has now gone to Woking,
and any remaining
County Council staff will
be relocated across the
county by 2007. Behind the
Coronation Stone (centre)
are the Municipal Offices,
which were replaced by
the Guildhall in 1935.
As this is a market town,
the town centre has a
remarkable number of
hotels and hostelries; on
the right is the Griffin
Hotel, established in the
16th century, an important
posting house that closed
in 1986 and was converted
into shops. A proud early
motorist stands outside the
Assembly Rooms (right).
An extract from from"Kingston upon Thames Photographic Memories".
The few waterside
industries of Kingston were
based off the High Street
with their wharves backing
onto the Thames. Hide’s
department store has an
advertising hoarding on
the riverfront (left)
proclaiming their fabrics
and furnishings. The large
roof beyond the Hides
hoarding is that of the
Odeon cinema in the
High Street, which was
demolished in 1988.
An extract from from"Kingston upon Thames Photographic Memories".
On the left are the four rollers which allow
smaller craft to negotiate the weir. The
passengers had to disembark and push
and pull the punt or canoe over the rollers
instead of going through the lock - that
was more for larger craft, such as the small
steam pinnace on the right.
An extract from from"Kingston upon Thames Photographic Memories".
The photograph was taken from Eel Pie Island, facing towards the parish church and C Shore’s
boathouse and Island Ferry. C Hammertons, who continued operating the ferry and hiring out
canoes, punts and dinghies, took over Shore’s in 1926.
An extract from from"Kingston upon Thames Photographic Memories".