Balham Collection (#3)

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

Three children with jug, Balham, SW London
Three little children with a water jug from a pub, on a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Boys drawing in chalk, Balham, SW London
Boys drawing chalk figures on the ground in a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Children with puppy, Balham, SW London
Group of children with a cute puppy, sitting in an open doorway of a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Five boys on a Balham street, SW London
Five boys in distress on a Balham street, SW London. They have just fallen off a plank of wood which they were using as an improvised slide. Date: circa 1961

Boys with tricycles in a Balham street, SW London
Six small boys in a huddle with tricycles in a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Boys doing handstands on a Balham street, SW London
Two boys doing handstands against a brick wall on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Small boy keeping goal in Balham, SW London
Small boy keeping goal in front of a concrete wall in a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Small boy with football in Balham, SW London
Small boy catching a football in front of a concrete wall in a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

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

Boys playing with bottle, Balham, SW London
A group of boys sitting in a circle, playing with an empty milk bottle, on a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Two boys having mock fight, Balham, SW London
Two boys having a mock fight on a street in Balham, SW London. The boy on the right seems to be holding a rather dangerous-looking knife. Date: circa 1961

Girl eating ice cream on a Balham street, SW London
A little girl in a dirty dress, eating ice cream on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1967

Two girls skipping on a Balham street, SW London
Two girls skipping in the roadway on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Children sittiing on kerb, Balham, SW London
Two smiling children sittiing on a kerb on a street in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Little girl behind a fence, Balham, SW London
A little girl peeps over the top of a fence on a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Children with pipes on a Balham street, SW London
A group of children playing in and around a stack of large pipes on a Balham street, SW London, Date: circa 1961

Girls in a playground, Balham, SW London
A group of five girls sitting on a circular swing in a playground in Balham, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Boys with bent wheel, Balham, SW London
Three boys looking at a bent wheel on a pile of junk in a Balham street, SW London. Date: circa 1961

Children in doorway of a Balham street, SW London
Six children sitting and standing in a doorway on a Balham street, SW London, smiling for the camera. Date: circa 1961

Children on a mattress, Balham, SW London
Children sitting on a mattress on top of a pile of rubbish in a Balham street, 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.