About Balham
The Balham settlement appears in the Domesday Book as Belgeham. Bal refers to 'rounded enclosure' and ham to a homestead, village or river enclosure.
Most of Balham is in the London Borough of Wandsworth, although the SW12 postcode, coterminous with Balham, includes the Hyde Farm area east of Cavendish Road within Lambeth. The southern part of Balham, towards Tooting Bec, near the 1930s block of flats called Du Cane Court and the area to the south of Wandsworth Common, comes under the SW17 postcode. Balham's most prestigious area is the Heaver Estate, to the south of Balham on its border with Tooting. The Heaver Estate mainly comprises substantial houses (up to seven bedroomed) with high ceilings, ornate Victorian architecture and generous sized rooms. The estate was built in the grounds of the old Bedford Hill House and was the finest work of local Victorian builder, Alfred Heaver.
Balham is situated between four south London commons: Clapham Common to the north, Wandsworth Common to the west, Tooting Graveney Common to the south, and the adjoining Tooting Bec Common to the east – the latter two historically distinct areas are referred to by both Wandsworth Council and some local people as Tooting Common.
Balham Description
The Balham settlement appears in the Domesday Book as Belgeham. Bal refers to 'rounded enclosure' and ham to a homestead, village or river enclosure.
Most of Balham is in the London Borough of Wandsworth, although the SW12 postcode, coterminous with Balham, includes the Hyde Farm area east of Cavendish Road within Lambeth. The southern part of Balham, towards Tooting Bec, near the 1930s block of flats called Du Cane Court and the area to the south of Wandsworth Common, comes under the SW17 postcode. Balham's most prestigious area is the Heaver Estate, to the south of Balham on its border with Tooting. The Heaver Estate mainly comprises substantial houses (up to seven bedroomed) with high ceilings, ornate Victorian architecture and generous sized rooms. The estate was built in the grounds of the old Bedford Hill House and was the finest work of local Victorian builder, Alfred Heaver.
Balham is situated between four south London commons: Clapham Common to the north, Wandsworth Common to the west, Tooting Graveney Common to the south, and the adjoining Tooting Bec Common to the east – the latter two historically distinct areas are referred to by both Wandsworth Council and some local people as Tooting Common.