Balham Collection (#2)

Group of children playing on a Balham street, SW London. One has a bicycle, another has a toy car, and others are sitting in the remains of an old suitcase

Children eating ice cream on a Balham street, SW London
A group of six children eating ice cream on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Group of children on waste ground, Balham, SW London
A group of children on waste ground in Balham, SW London. The girl standing up seems to be giving a speech or singing a song. Date: circa 1961

Girls with their dolls in a Balham street, SW London
Four girls with their dolls, sitting on the kerb in a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Boys on a go-kart in a Balham street, SW London
Three boys on a go-kart in a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Little boy with freckles, Balham, SW London
A little boy with freckles, Balham, SW London. (2 of 2) Date: circa 1961

Girls with doll and parasol, Balham, SW London
Girls with a doll in a cradle, and a parasol, in a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Fire at the Balham Covered Retail Market - 1953
Six-Pump Fire at the Balham Covered Retail Market, 31 Bedford Hill (on junction with Shipka Road), Balham, London 8th May 1953. Date: 1953

Blitz in London -- Cavendish Road, Balham, WW2
Blitz in London -- AFS firemen sorting through the debris in the aftermath of a direct hit on their sub-fire station 86W, located at Cavendish Road School, Balham, SW London, 5 November 1940

Cavendish Road School for Deaf, Balham - Language Lesson
The London School Boards Cavendish Road School for Deaf, Balham - a language lesson accompanies a childrens tea party. Date: early 1900s

Cavendish Road School for Deaf, Balham
The London School Boards Cavendish Road School for Deaf, Balham, south London - children are being taught to speak. Date: early 1900s

Cavendish Road School for Deaf Children, Balham
The London School Boards Cavendish Road School for Deaf, Balham, south London - a clay modelling class. The boy at the end of the table holds tame rat, used as a model. Date: early 1900s

Man feeding sparrow in a Balham park, SW London
Man feeding bread to a sparrow in a Balham park, SW London. Date: circa 1960s

Children with toy pram, Balham, SW London
Children playing with a toy pram on a Balham street, SW London. A small girl and a teddy bear are in the pram. Date: circa 1961

Two little girls on a Balham street, SW London
Two little girls in front of a house on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Seven girls on a Balham street, SW London
Seven girls in front of a wooden fence on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Boys playing with junk, Balham, SW London
Three boys playing with junk in a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Three boys playing with sand in a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Six girls on a Balham street, SW London
Six girls huddled together in front of a wooden fence on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Four boys on a wall, with washing, Balham, SW London
Four boys on top of a brick wall with a washing line above them, on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Children on doorstep in a Balham street, SW London
Four children on a doorstep in a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Two girls playing on planks, Balham, SW London
Two girls playing on planks of wood, with a washing line and a bicycle behind them, on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Chldren on a wall, with washing, Balham, SW London
Two girls sitting on a brick wall with a washing line behind them, on a Balham street, SW London. Two boys stand on the pavement, looking up at them. Date: circa 1961

Old man with cup of tea, Balham, SW London
An old man relaxing with a cup of tea, Balham, SW London. circa 1960s

Old man pulling prams, Balham, SW London
An old man pulling along a series of prams joined together, on a road in Balham, SW London. Each of the first two prams contains a large leather armchair, and the third one contains a wooden crate

Old man with dog and pram, Balham, SW London
An old man with a German Shepherd dog and junk in a long line of prams on a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1960s

Old man with military colours and medal, Balham, SW London
An old man wearing military colours and a medal (dated 1895), Balham, SW London. circa 1960s

Tramp sitting on grass, Balham, SW London
A tramp sitting on a patch of grass in Balham, SW London. His beard has recently been trimmed during a visit to the clean-up centre. Date: circa 1960s

Children at a nursery school, Balham, SW London. Date: 1950s

Tramp asleep on a Balham street, SW London
A tramp asleep on a bench on a Balham street in SW London. The various bags and papers appear to belong to him. Date: circa 1960s

Refuse collector at work on a Balham street, SW London. He is wearing a mortar board which someone has thrown away. Date: circa 1960s

Refuse collectors at work on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1960s

Tramp in a doorway, Balham, SW London
A tramp sitting in a doorway of a house in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1960s

Children playing doctors and nurses, Balham, SW London
Four children playing doctors and nurses on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Group of children on pavement, Balham, SW London
Group of children on a pavement in Balham, SW London, camping out under a wooden plank and a piece of corrugated iron sheeting. One girl is writing on a pre-printed form. Date: circa 1961

Two girls behind a fence, Balham, SW London
Two little girls standing behind a fence on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Children with sketchbook on a Balham street, SW London
A group of children looking through a sketchbook in front of a wooden fence on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Boys in doorway on a Balham street, SW London
A group of boys standing in a doorway on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Boys using bubble gum machine, Balham, SW London
Boys using a bubble gum machine on a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Boys on a lamp post on a Balham street, SW London
Four boys climbing a lamp post with the aid of a rope on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Baby holding shoe in Balham, SW London
A baby in a pram, holding a shoe, on a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Boys snowballing in Balham, SW London
Two boys snowballing in front of a concrete wall in a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Boys playing by railings, Balham, SW London
A group of boys playing by some iron railings on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Three boys mock fighting, Balham, SW London
Three small boys having a mock fight on a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Children running with string, Balham, SW London
Children running with string tied round their waists, on a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

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"Balham: A Tapestry of Memories from Blitz to Post-War Delights" During the Blitz in London, Balham High Road stood as a testament to resilience. Despite the chaos and destruction surrounding it, this vibrant street remained a symbol of hope for its residents. In the aftermath of World War II, children could be seen enjoying simple pleasures on a Balham street in Southwest London. With ice lollies in hand, their laughter filled the air as they relished carefree moments amidst the remnants of war. The bustling Balham Market became a hub of activity during the 1950s. Locals flocked to this lively marketplace, where vendors proudly displayed their wares and shoppers reveled in discovering hidden treasures. Handstands became an art form on Balham streets as children showcased their acrobatic skills with infectious enthusiasm. Their playful spirit echoed through every corner, reminding everyone that joy could be found even in everyday moments. A girl fearlessly climbed trees while colorful laundry fluttered above her head - an idyllic scene that captured both innocence and domesticity within Balham's charming neighborhoods. Boys gathered outside sweet shops, eagerly eyeing sugary delights that promised blissful indulgence. These establishments served not only as purveyors of treats but also as meeting points for friendships forged over shared love for confectionery wonders. Books were cherished companions for young girls strolling through Balham's streets. Lost in literary worlds, they embarked on countless adventures fueled by imagination and curiosity. A boy proudly posed with his bicycle wheel - a symbol of freedom and exploration that epitomized childhood joys experienced throughout Balham's welcoming community. Once again defying gravity with boundless energy, children continued to perform handstands on Balham streets - an enduring display of youthful exuberance against any backdrop life presented them with. Football united boys across generations as they kicked up dust playing passionately on these very same streets.