Balham - London Gateway to the South Walking Tour

Take an excellent walk with Joolz around Balham which is a a very cool and trendy area in south London. Full of people who are better looking than me!!
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Here in Balham we visit the location of a second world war bomb which created a hole so big that a bus fell into it. Also the famous Du Cane Court which the nazis and and Adolf Hitler wanted to use as their HQ (apparently!).
Then there's the 211 club frequented by The Krays and the miracles of Fatima!!
We see some cool little things you might miss like writing on the wall left over from teh second world war.
The sewing machine museum is a lot of fun and they even have a barrel organ.
There's the Tooting Bec Lido which was the biggest fresh water pool in the UK and then there's the famous Victorian Whodunnit! The murder of Charles Bravo or was it?
It was never solved!
We also go to the Balham Bowls Club and generally enjoy some Balham Banter whilst seeing a lot of stink pipes and the underground river, the Falcon Brook.
Piano music composed and performed by ➜ @Quintemental
Singer/Songwriter and pianist - Kate Garner Music
kategarnermusic.co.uk/
If you enjoy watching my films why not throw me a one-off contribution via paypal! www.paypal.me/julianmcdonnell
Or if you want to chip in a couple of ££ a month you can support me on Patreon: / joolzguides
#Balham #balhamwalk #gatewaytothesouth #londonwalk #londonwalks #londonhistory #southLondon #joolzguides

[@Joolzguides]

If you enjoy watching my films why not throw me a one-off contribution via paypal! www.paypal.me/julianmcdonnell Or if you want to chip in a couple of ££ a month you can support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/joolzguides Follow me on Instagram for more bits and bobs ➜ @JoolzGuidesOfficial

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

I was in the White Eagle Club a few times in the 1980s. I remember the barmaid, who I believe was bought with the club premises at the government auction when the property was sold off as ill gotten proceeds of crime. She was a real bottle blonde 👱‍♀️. I chatted to her. She remembered Ronnie and Reggie. They woz luvvly boyz. They always bought flowers for their mum. Regular gentlemen. Etc etc. I think she may well have been the model (along with countless others across East London especially) for John Cleese in drag in the classic Piranha Brothers sketch. "Ee was a real gentleman. Ee knew ow to treat a female impersonator". Happy days.

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

I lived in Byrne Road 1980 to 82 or so. It definitely WASN'T gentrified then. On warm Sunday mornings on the steps of the old Victorian tenements the Rastas would congregate, strumming their guitars or playing their ghetto blasters. The Bedford was my local. One morning in 1980 in the newsagent I saw the newspaper headline that John Lennon had been shot. Daytimes were alright but you didn't walk around too much at night. There were stabbings and murders there in the 1980s even. My car was broken into one night.

[@calebleland8390]

The dejected tone in Joilz' voice when he said "who cares" nearly broke my heart. Good sir, I do care. You get those points!

[@Janis470]

I care also

[@Darkraystudio]

I do too.

[@djidroneadventures4059]

I do too . Brilliant 😁😁

[@tomearle4599]

The Joolz drinking game is every time he mentions "its been turned into flats" you take a shot.

[@scottsinaz3000]

Luxury flats.

[@haint7709]

A welcome, sane, corner of the internet. Thanks to everyone who put these together!

[@Joolzguides]

Everyone? It was just me…. With a bit of help from Simon!😅😂 🙏 Thanks. So glad you liked it.

[@scottwallace901]

Sane - You must be new here. lol

[@technov1deo]

tally ho!

[@josh0g]

Anyone want to talk politics?

[@haint7709]

​@@josh0gGood one. I often forget the international aspect of the net. I'm in the U.S. and that was what I was referring to when I wrote sane. Things sre a little crazy here (it's all relative). Simon, and prople like him, is where I go to escape, at least for a short time (even though he can be whacky sometimes. Becaue of Simone, I now know the word "stink pipe". Thanks Simon. The old, very full, brain is grateful!

[@orangewarm1]

i grew up here in the 80s. This was a working class area. Then in the 90s the lawyers started moving in. House prices went crazy. My parents bought their 4-bed house for 4.5k in 1970. Now it's worth £1m. If you go to Clapham South you'll see the two round 'turrets', which were used as bomb shelters during the war.

[@andybaker2456]

They were the entrances to a huge underground bomb shelter, lined with bunk beds. It was also where many people who came over on the Windrush were temporarily housed when they first arrived. That's why so many of them settled in the area in and around Brixton, as they used to walk from Clapham Common to the labour exchange in Brixton to look for work.

[@silverstuff182]

Wow that’s great. But where can non millionaires live now?

[@richardedlmann3047]

My father, a lawyer, moved into Ramsden Rd in 1983, so they were moving in before the 90's. That said he was the only Lawyer at the firm, at that time, not to live in Chelsea. I imagine he was Lawyer 0.

[@MickAngelhere]

Here in Australia , in most cities an average home is worth one million

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

A very interesting area, Joolz. I found that the Balham Underground station incident during WWII was intersting. The sewing machine establishment amazing indeed, and also most fascinating is the sewer pipes still in existence around the district. Lots of other stuff, too much to mention, but many thanks for this most enjoyable film that you've done here.

[@ebbyoflondon8365]

I'm a Wandsworth girl, born and bred but I never knew just how much hidden history there was in good old Balham! 1970s Balham was distinctly working class with a Liptons (now Waitrose), Bedford Hill was a red-light district, Balham Baths is now a leisure centre, Woolworths, Cullens, Broomfields, the new Hurleys......sadly, all those shops are long gone but thanks for bringing it back to life for me 😊

[@MattSaysHello]

I’ve lived in Balham all my life and I didn’t know 90% of these facts. Thanks!

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

A lovely Summer Sunday with Joolz and Simon guiding me around London - what could be better? :D

[@eshaibraheem4218]

Summer?

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

@@eshaibraheem4218 Sunday was a lovely Summer day - this week's weather does not compare, however!

[@nidgemills1617]

I dated a girl from Balham in the early nineties, I used to catch the train up from Maidstone fortnightly, hang around Balham for the weekend then head home. She was wonderful company and we had fun for the six months we were together, thanks for reminding me of these old haunts, love your work!

[@EricaNernie]

The "Bernard" reference did not go unnoticed by us Blackadder fans. Well done!

[@RP-xw3vi]

I was literally just telling someone about the Peter Sellers skit last weekend - which was first broadcast, incredibly in 1949! - and now this! Fantastic!

[@bradleybarnett9545]

"The little holes in the toothbrushes are carved manually- or, once a year."

[@hanmade]

Balham always makes me think of The Good Life… the episode where Margot gets a windbreak for the garden… Mr Bailey, who was the guy sent to put it up, was from Balham… and not sure Margot is impressed as he doesn’t know “elementary Latin” 😁 (always comes back to comedies for me!)

[@peterwillson878]

.............. but Mr Bailey did learn French in Balham ("Fait accompli!"), I recall.

[@hanmade]

@@peterwillson878 ha ha… “but not Latin” 😂

[@wattebol]

Today is a beautiful day because Joolz uploaded a new video!

[@geraldwalker6101]

I grew up around balham market both my dad and uncle sold caribbean fruit and veg in the 80s after gentrification its a shadow of its former self. Although after watching this maybe balham has regained a bit of its former glory

[@TalesOfWar]

I enjoy how all of these videos end in a pub. A convenient excuse! I'm all for it.

[@Joolzguides]

Well you’ll like my next book then!

[@gigteevee6118]

Glad you made it to the sewing machine museum, it really is a local gem! Nice trip South, keep them coming!

[@johnmurray8428]

Balham Gateway to the south was from a Peter Sellers LP from about 1957, called The best of Sellers! I was born in St James’ Hospital in Balham. Hospital long gone I am told.

[@richardrosen6453]

Probably converted into luxury flats.

[@amyboleszny543]

I remember Peter Sellers' classic skit on this, especially the traffic lights changing.

[@tadeusz1]

I used to go to Saturday night dance nights at the White Eagle club in the 1970's. Never knew about the connection with the Krays. Live and learn. Well done Joolz for the mention. I'm no longer in the UK but still read your "walks" book regularly. Great stuff.

[@barbaralamson7450]

I don't know if I've ever said, but i love your show. I love England. It is a beautiful and historic country. Thank you for showing us around. By the by, excellent little book you've put out. Can we have another?

[@janebaker966]

Mickey Dolenz was my favourite Monkee. That crafts and sewing emporium is fantastic. A reason to go to Balham. To see the Museum as well would be the icing on the cake. That Peter Sellers record came out in the late 1950s. It was on the radio when I was a small kid. It was produced by "the Fifth Beatle" as he became,George Martin.

[@Roland-pw5xj]

Sadly, now the only surviving monkey.

[@janebaker966]

@@Roland-pw5xj one of the things I liked about him,apart from his craggy smiley face was he was so hard working. In the music extracts he'd be playing the guitar,then shaking maracas,then on the piano,then on drums. At the time the idea of Editing was not in my frame of reference! I think the magic thing about The Monkees was that despite being a manufactured band they were actually talented boys all of them in their own right. I heard Peter Tork became a respected Shakespearean actor in the San Francisco theatre world.

[@bernardgarrett3897]

The Bedford Pub, the air raid shelters on Clapham Common amongst many other buildings were built by our family building company J Garrett & Son Ltd of Balham Hill. (By the Shell Petrol Station.) In the 1950's we had 2 football and Cricket teams.

[@reneeroche6328]

Thank you for your Blackadder reference with the house called, "Barnard" We are all so very glad that Bladrick has fond an kinder Gentlemen to serve. His first Gentleman -as you -remember died during the 1st World War. And, it's good to see that you are keeping Bladrick in employment, Joozy. Which brings to mind the Cockney question, "what color is you House ?" This week in the news we all learned the value of knowing color theroy in reading Art. Art is important, and hue is also part of what makes life and Art interesting. Another question, if you will, "when this man levitated, was he wearing his kilt at that time ?" In the photo he was wearing a kilt but in the drawn picture he was wearing trousers. A strong breeze could easily explain this magical moment, if he was wearing a kilt.

[@mushymagazineonlocation7328]

Nice to see the cottingley fairies getting a mention on the great Jules guide channel. Much appreciated.

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

Not quite about the fairies. It wasn't so strange then, many believed in spritualism, and after WW1 so many people were bereaved, and might grasp for a straw, that their loved one is still out there, somewhere.

[@SirWhig-esq.]

Greatness continued. I’m going to Balham tomorrow (first time) for a friend’s wedding, 🎉 and getting bearings from Joolz and Simon seems like a good plan. 😊

[@kevinsrennoer7553]

One of your best videos. Dont ask me why. Maybe its the balance between you being a Londoner and London and its endless stories.❤

[@garyrutledge7639]

Things are pretty grim in the US today these days. So it's always such a lovely surprise to wake up on a Sunday morning to a new Jules guides video. I'll be vacationing in London and St. Albans in September and these videos keep me looking forward to what will be my second visit to England.

[@hideouslyugly]

Hi Gary. I was looking at a video of pubs. You mentioned St. Albans, and in St. Albans, there is the oldest pub called Ye olde Fighting Cocks, and it's 1200 years old. Pay it a visit. Bless you.

[@KC-gy5xw]

Another top notch video. I definitely want to go to the Sewing Machine museum, then get lost in the shop and spend all money on yet more yarn!!

[@johndunn1103]

I used to go to The Bedford with a few friends on a Tuesday night. The pub had a circular revolving stage and we regularly watched a band called Dragons Playground. JD

[@dobythedog]

Those lovely old tube station signs brought me back to when Shepherds Bush had a station on a line (can't remember whether it was Metropolitan or Central) at the end of Shepherds Bush green near to the Shepherds Bush Hilton (Yeah, I know they like to call it the Kensington Hilton). The décor and ambience was just like the Balham station with old wooden telephone boxes too like you see in old films. I think they ripped it all out for modernity.

[@danmorris1726]

The Balham Bowls is owned by a very good small chain. They keep pubs looking authentic not like youngs. The Antelope in Tooting is also owned by them and its fantastic

[@knowyourbassplayer]

Watched the Mickey Dolenz Balham comedy as you recommended, hysterical!

[@richardherbert1375]

Balham - Gateway to the South My father had the Peter Sellers narrated EP record of this in the 1960's. "It was written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden for the short-lived BBC radio series Third Division and featured in the second edition broadcast on the BBC Third Programme on 2 February 1949" From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[@gavinivers8941]

My late father also had a copy. Happy Days.

[@de68a]

A warm sunny Sunday with a new Joolz Guide video is perfect !!

[@BumblebumBear]

Apparently stink pipes are not to release odour from sewers, they are to relieve pressure and stop a build ip of gas in the sewer.

[@natashalion8028]

Love it, I used to live in Balham/Tooting, learned a few things. Dame Margaret Rutherford used to live in Elmfield Road, opposite Ravenstone School. As children back in the 70's, we used to play in the Priory whilst it was derelict, stories of it being haunted!!?

[@Big-Harry]

wonderful way to start a Sunday with a Jools guide video

[@annetteconroy6921]

Im watching from an older depressed semi rural area in New Zealand. Diagonal crossings are common in NZ. Official crossings and jay walking. The brick and stucco houses and buildings in Belham are marvellous. Its great to see them preserved. It makes a bally good morning wander !!

[@karennelson4108]

There are lots of stink pipes in the whole area. From Brixton, up to Clapham and Tooting are stink pipes. The Effra River used to flow through Brixton (Effra Road is named after it I believe) and you can spot quite a few of these pipes. I'm sure there is one on King's Avenue heading towards Streatham. I lived in Clapham from 1988 to 2014 when I moved to Tulse Hill. Thanks for this video. It was nice to remember those days, especially when my children were very young and we would walk to Tooting Common or Wandsworth Common. Good days...

[@GrahamCLester]

The water at the Lido always used to be absolutely freezing because it was unheated. I remember going there with Penwortham School when I first moved to London in 1970. Used to cross Tooting Common every day as a teen-ager, going to a different school. My parents were married in Balham in 1956!

[@andybaker2456]

I remember well the days when "ladies of the night" could be seen on street corners the length of Bedford Hill! We used to use Bedford Hill as a cut through when going from home in Battersea to visit family in points further south. They were usually stood there in little groups of two or three, wearing short skirts and lots of fake leopard print fur! 😁

[@xr6lad]

Yea yea ‘ use as a cut through’ wink wink say no more. 👍🤣

[@janebaker966]

But odd to say nowadays perfectly respectable,well mannered and "nice" young ladies will actually dress like that to go out of an evening and they've got jobs,maybe in a coffee shop,a garden centre,with a care agency,all sorts and theyd probably be highly offended if some man approached them with a lucrative proposal. I was once waiting at a bus stop with a young woman who was probably totally unaware that her outfit was exactly that of a 1950s Paris prostitute,at least she looked like Michelle of 'Allo Allo and I just thought it was wrong to dress like that,or barely dress then get offended at peoples reactions. This was the middle of the day. I'm sure she was a nice respectable young woman with a job. I wanted to say to her "why are you dressed like a prostitute but I felt that it might cause a scene and she probably wouldn't have a clue what I meant. So I said nothing.

[@stephaniecowans3646]

Oh fraptious day, kaloo, kalay!!! I was actually going to re-watch some earlier Joolz' videos this morning (it's Sunday as I type this) with my morning cup of joe, when I was notified of this new video! Brilliant way to start my Sunday morning. Thank you, Joolz, for another great video.

[@catdogbirds7110]

Best Mother's Day Gift ---thanks Joolz and Simon. Love the old architecture and the stories.

[@mikefoster2976]

I worked as assistant Editor on the short comedy of the film mentioned. A long time ago but I think it was more early 80's than late 70's. A fun project to work on though.

[@bob56gibson]

We had a stink pipe in Brussels Rd at the top of St John's Hill SW11 but it was definitely not connected to Falcon Brook which ran at the foot of St John's Hill about half a mile away with a clearly defined valley headed south along Northcote Road. Perhaps the regular sewers had them as well? But I remember being told that there would be explosions without them.

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

That was fantastic. More of my old stomping grounds! You absolutely got the sun, showing everything to its best.

[@lynnecromack4933]

DuCane Court was recognisable from the air given its size & unique shape and became a landmark for the Luftwaffe during bombing raids.

[@oenophilia555]

Hooray, another Joolz video. Unfortunately, we’re leaving today amidst a gloriously sunny, warm spell. I’d hoped to bump into Julian out and about. His guide book has inspired several walks and I look forward to coming back very soon. Cheers, Julian.

[@davidcook7887]

I wish I’d know some of this stuff when I lived there! Huge affection for Balham.

[@lisejacquelinerigault2575]

Joolz thank you, another great video. Never been to Balham, yet I did not live far from there. When next in London I must go and see the old sewing machine museum, looks interesting. Had no idea it was there...been to Tooting bec and saw your video on it and revisited after that! Maybe one day you'll do a video of my town (for fifty years) that is also interesting, but undergoing so many changes.....

[@Apollo_Mint]

Splendid video old bean, but please do one of Dulwich. It would be nice to see my school again. Such fond memories of getting 6 of the best.

[@mavisemberson8737]

Bal -Ham gateway to the South was a short radio programme spoof by Peter Sellers. with an American accent during the Goon Show I think!

[@Otacatapetl]

I was born in Balham in 1951 and grew up in Tooting Bec. I grew up thinking stink pipes must be everywhere as they were such a common sight around there.

[@davidobrien9362]

Funny you mention Micky Dolenz I was in Tooting Bec Lido back in the 80's,so was he .I've never seen Balham look so nice Joel's Every Saturday morning I'd be shopping with mum,Balham was a very busy place then .

[@johnhehir508]

Yeah 😂 I AM a believer,did he take a slow train to tooting bec (Clarksville) 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@georegan]

I walk past that stink pipe every day and I’d never noticed it. Thanks for this video, opened my eyes to the incredible history of the local streets!

[@EricaNernie]

As soon as I saw the name "Balham", I thought of the old Peter Sellers skit. Great stuff.

[@shelaghjackson9577]

My auntie and family lived in Balham for 40 years , in Rudloe Rd. I used to visit her in the early 70’s when I was a student in Scotland. They still had the old outside loo out back. Balham wasn’t a great area back then……but I still loved London.

[@andybaker2456]

Falconbrook is also the name of a Battersea primary school, for the very same reason as those "mansions".

[@stewartmckeand6099]

The Barrel Organ guy used to play it in Williamson Sq. in Liverpool in the 70s.

[@Joolzguides]

It could do with being tuned!

[@stewartmckeand6099]

@@Joolzguides I seem to remember the organ grinder always being stoned. The monkey tuned it!

[@chriswade7470]

Ooh Ramsden Road, that brings back memories. I spent many nights in a rather nasty flat on Ramsden Road in the late 70’s

[@kathrynhobbs8874]

Tommy Trinder lived on the top floor of du Cane court, or as he called it, Trinder Towers

[@lktubez]

Ah yes, diagonal crossings like the Shibuya Scramble in Tokyo! Great work Julian. Love the new graphic/logo at the beginning too. All the best!

[@michellecrocker2485]

I recently went to Fatima last month. It was really amazing

[@foowashere]

The Pathe retro segment at 0:35 almost had me fooled. Well done you! 😂

[@thesoupdragon112]

Great video, I grew up round the corner in Streatham. Moved away in 1980 when I was 13 so it's nice to see the old area.

[@rjmusicltd]

Wooohoooo!!! Great video Joolz, really enjoyed it, nice one!!

[@johnmichaelcule8423]

BALHAM GATEWAY TO THE SOUTH started out in 1949 as a sketch on BBC Third Programme. Lots of versions since.

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

Lived in Balham in the 00s. Eventually bought a tiny 1 bed flat for £170k. I loved the area. Cooler than Clapham, more gentrified than Tooting. Sundays spent at the BBC. And of course it had/ has? A Waitrose. That flat went up for sale last year. 1/2mil.

[@graemewilson]

Another classic Joolz. 🎉

[@ChrisSaddlerSam]

10:10 ooooh... that bicyclist looks just like Manuel Peter Neuer, the german goalkeeper of Bayern Munich FC!

[@tanna4534]

The book you mentioned about Douglas Bader, the WWII pilot who lost his legs as escaped a POW camp, was my favorite as a youngster. And when I saw the Du Cane apartments, the first thing I thought was how it looked like a Poirot setting! Really enjoyed the ramble around Balham.

[@steveallen1635]

Joel's you are an absolute superhero, never even heard of Balam!

[@hazcat640]

YAY! Great start to the day. Joolz. 👍

[@indoora]

Your videos are never boring.

[@GilesWendes]

Lived on Balham High Road for a bit. Love The Bedford, great venue

[@SaucyJack88]

Oooooooo yes, new Sunday, new Joolz Guides! I will for sure watch this when I get home. Currently enjoying the nice weather outside too much to watch a Joolz guide, but you better believe seeing this being dropped made my Sunday better.

[@stevebradley704]

Love the title. Referencing Peter Sellers. Great vid.

[@kb3cxe]

I'm always happy when there is a new Joolz guide to watch. Great wrok.

[@jamesbalchin4640]

My auntie lived there from the 1970s to 1985 I used to go there as a baby and my mummy used to get my toys from there and buns as well used to get spoiled by mummy and auntie in Balham

[@jayphillips4942]

I love your videos. I’ve watched them all and when I have my umbrella here in Tokyo, I pretend I’m you. If you ever want to come to Japan, please look us up. We’re saving up for a tour with you.

[@TOMMANSON94]

I remember listening to the Peter Sellers record - it must have been about 1962 or earlier. Could it have been produced by George Martin? Before the Beatles he was best known for comedy records.

[@karennelson4108]

My son went to the primary school, Trinity St Mary, that is across the road from Du Cane Court. It was a great school. Ms Quintrell was a lovely head teacher and some of the teaching staff were so good

[@brainwaiver1]

Another Joolz jewel for this migrated Brit to feel nostalgic about. Cheers.

[@kieranharriman7055]

Another splendid wander about.

[@markcalzaverini]

Lovely weather

[@fredthegredgred9013]

Another Great start to a Sunday..

[@pearlhartney9]

Always love a Joolz guide!

[@Paskudnak]

That beer sure looks good!

[@mancroft]

Lovely to see you, as usual, Joolz.

[@johannebaker9730]

What a delightful way to spend a Sunday xxxx

[@notanotherbottletop9892]

Brilliant as always....thanks nugget.

[@Colin399]

Another great vid👍

[@fraseraitken1837]

great vid-thanks

[@Sanddancer1]

great peter sellers reference 👍😂

[@teecefamilykent]

These guide videos are awesome.

[@Richbrick48]

i lived down Byrne road in the 80s, great video 👍

[@timothyrobson3325]

Saw Ackerman Bilk in the Bedford 1972

[@bob56gibson]

Just Acker which was a Somerset slang for mate and his nickname.

[@Timjoerobson]

@@bob56gibson slip of the finger Ackerman was my English teacher Thanks for the “Acker”

[@allegro1234]

Loved your video, as always!

[@TXMEDRGR]

Your videos are always interesting and always fun. Thanks.