#balham

[travelling-my-little-pony]

Trixie Lulamoon has found fungi.

In Balham, in London, England.

[scavengedluxury]

Tiles, Sainsburys, 87/89 High Road, Balham, 1969. From the Sainsbury Archive.

[highsummoneraoi]

Bookshops in London📚

[ofleafstructure]

Balham, London 1961 (ph. Paul Kaye)

[dubmill]

Balham, London; 24.12.2020

[londiniumlundene]

Du Cane Court

Balham High Road in south London may not be the most obvious place to find the largest privately owned block of flats within one building in Europe, but with 676 apartments, that was certainly the case when Du Cane Court opened in 1937.

Built in Art Deco style, the building took its name from the Du Cane family, the 18th Century landowners whose land the flats were constructed on. The building was a popular residence for actors and musical hall stars in the 1930s and 1940s, many of whom likely made use of the social club on the top floor, which came complete with a bar and restaurant. Du Cane court also boasted a shop, and the services of porters for general work and repairs.

Unlike much of the surrounding areas of Balham, Du Cane Court escaped bombing during the Second World War. This has given rise to an urban legend that Adolf Hitler had personally chosen Du Cane Court to be his HQ, had his invasion of Britain succeeded. It may be more likely that the distinctive size and shape of the flats served as a useful landmark for Luftwaffe pilots, as the point to turn around and head back to Germany.

Du Cane Court continues to be a landmark of Balham High Road; it now has more than 676 apartments, as some of the communal spaces have since been converted into residences. The building’s elegant Art Deco style have also led it to appear in several scenes of Agatha Christie’s Poirot.

[leftoverlondoner]

London Transport cover stars, 10

Dorothy Kentzer, 27, is Woman Relief Porter at Balham station and “one of the youngest women porters on the Underground”.

[legitedigiulia]

PIZZZZAAAAAAA CONFETTI

Yard Sale Pizza, Balham,South London

March 2021 Love shop sign - Sign - Graphic

https://yardsalepizza.com/