Editing Balham (section)

==Landmarks==
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 | image1 = The Bedford - geograph.org.uk - 1014297.jpg
 | caption1 = [[The Bedford, Balham|The Bedford]]
 | image2 = Du Cane Court 184.jpg
 | caption2 = [[Du Cane Court]] is a distinctive local landmark with its [[Art Deco]] design
 | image3 = Impressions of Balham Relief (Detail).jpg 
 | caption3 = ''Impressions of Balham'' 
- one of four bronze reliefs on Balham Station Road
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*[[The Bedford, Balham|The Bedford]] is a pub venue for live music and comedy on Bedford Hill. Performers at the Banana Cabaret have included [[Stephen K Amos]], [[Omid Djalili]], [[Harry Hill]], [[Eddie Izzard]], [[Al Murray]] and [[Catherine Tate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bananacabaret.co.uk/about//|title=About|work=bananacabaret.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703050735/http://bananacabaret.co.uk/about// |archive-date=3 July 2018 }}</ref> Musicians who have played include [[Ed Sheeran]] and [[Sam Smith]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Live music at The Bedford in Balham, south London |url=https://thebedford.com/livemusic/ |website=The Bedford Pub London}}</ref> The pub has won various awards including the Publican Music Pub of the Year 2002; the Morning Advertiser Pub of the Year 2004; and the [[Evening Standard Pub of the Year]] 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebedford.co.uk/Content/About-Us.aspx |title=About Us |work=thebedford.co.uk |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508165630/http://www.thebedford.co.uk/Content/About-Us.aspx |archive-date=8 May 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/And-the-winners-are|title=And the winners are|work=MorningAdvertiser.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406025805/http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/And-the-winners-are |archive-date=6 April 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2014/08/30/comedians-khachapuri-and-chippies-its-balhams-best-bits/|title=Comedians, khachapuri and chippies: it's Balham's best bits|work=Time Out|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902060835/http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2014/08/30/comedians-khachapuri-and-chippies-its-balhams-best-bits/ |archive-date=2 September 2014 }}</ref> In 1876, the pub building (then named the Bedford Hotel) housed the [[coroner]]'s inquest into the notorious unsolved murder of [[Charles Bravo]], a resident and lawyer who was poisoned, possibly by his wife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/greater-london/hauntings/the-bedford-public-house-balham.html|title=The Bedford Public House, Balham|work=mysteriousbritain.co.uk|date=29 May 2011 }}</ref> [[The Priory, Balham|The Priory]], where the alleged murder took place, is also a landmark noted for the specific architectural style.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/009baa32-fd1d-11e3-8ca9-00144feab7de.html#slide2|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210221259/https://www.ft.com/content/009baa32-fd1d-11e3-8ca9-00144feab7de#slide2|archive-date=10 December 2022|url-access=subscription|title=London's Balham: from murder mystery to haven for high-flyers|work=Financial Times|date=4 July 2014|last1=Stephens|first1=Philip|access-date=1 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
*The Bedford Hill area of Balham was associated with [[street prostitution]] throughout the 1970s and '80s. A project was organised for the matter in the late 2000s and since then has no longer been an issue for residents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/wandsworthnews/8311453.Prostitution_clampdown_hailed_a_success/|title=Prostitution clampdown hailed a success|work=Your Local Guardian|date=6 August 2010|first=Eleanor|last=Harding }}</ref>
*[[Du Cane Court]] was the largest block of flats in Europe built for private occupation rather than as social housing at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ducanecourt.com|title=Du Cane Court » Balham High Road » London » SW17|work=ducanecourt.com}}</ref> Its 676 flats range from studios up to 4-bedroom penthouses. The block has had a number of notable residents, including comedian [[Tommy Trinder]] and actress Dame [[Margaret Rutherford]]. Scenes from [[Agatha Christie's Poirot]] were filmed in the building.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ducanecourt.com/design.html|title=Du Cane Court » Balham High Road » London » SW17|work=ducanecourt.com|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914160429/http://www.ducanecourt.com/design.html|archive-date=14 September 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvlocations.net/plymouthexpress.htm|title=On Location with Poirot - The Plymouth Express|work=tvlocations.net}}</ref>
*[[Oak Lodge School]] is a secondary school for deaf children aged 11 to 19. It accepts pupils from all over London.
* ''Impressions of Balham'' are four cold cast bronze reliefs mounted on a high brick wall on Balham Station Road. These depict local residents and everyday scenes. They were conceived and constructed by Christine Thomas and Julia Barton and installed in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |title=Impressions of Balham |url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/impressions-of-balham-301817 |website=artuk.org |publisher=Art UK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Impressions of Balham |url=http://www.shadyoldlady.com/location/2944 |website=shadyoldlady.com}}</ref>
*Balham has its own library and leisure centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.placesleisure.org/centres/balham-leisure-centre/|title=Balham Leisure Centre|work=placesforpeopleleisure.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.better.org.uk/library/london/wandsworth/balham-library# |title=Balham Library - Wandsworth - Better Libraries}}</ref>
*The UK's first pedestrian diagonal [[pedestrian scramble|X-crossing]] was installed at the intersection of Balham High Road, with Balham Station Road and Chestnut Grove in 2005.  This was later adopted at [[Oxford Circus]] in 2009 which was the second X-crossing in the UK.<ref>[http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/(S(jpfrmg55o3e5ic45yryvmt55))/Data/Regeneration%20and%20Transport%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny%20Committee/20020611/Agenda/(Paper%20No.%2002-475).pdf Wandsworth Borough Council "Regeneration and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee" Report 2002] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907031024/http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/%28S%28jpfrmg55o3e5ic45yryvmt55%29%29/Data/Regeneration%20and%20Transport%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny%20Committee/20020611/Agenda/%28Paper%20No.%2002-475%29.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907031024/http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/(S(jpfrmg55o3e5ic45yryvmt55))/Data/Regeneration%20and%20Transport%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny%20Committee/20020611/Agenda/(Paper%20No.%2002-475).pdf |archive-date=2014-09-07 |url-status=live |date=7 September 2014 }}</ref><ref>[http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/(S(jpfrmg55o3e5ic45yryvmt55))/Data/Regeneration%20and%20Transport%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny%20Committee/20050907/Agenda/$Bedford%20Hill%20(Paper%20No.%2005-685).doc.pdf Wandsworth Borough Council "Regeneration and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee" Report 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907030652/http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/%28S%28jpfrmg55o3e5ic45yryvmt55%29%29/Data/Regeneration%20and%20Transport%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny%20Committee/20050907/Agenda/%24Bedford%20Hill%20%28Paper%20No.%2005-685%29.doc.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907030652/http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/(S(jpfrmg55o3e5ic45yryvmt55))/Data/Regeneration%20and%20Transport%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny%20Committee/20050907/Agenda/$Bedford%20Hill%20(Paper%20No.%2005-685).doc.pdf |archive-date=2014-09-07 |url-status=live |date=7 September 2014 }}</ref>
*The world's first "intelligent" pedestrian crossings have also been trialled at [[Balham station]] (including [[Tooting Bec tube station|Tooting Bec]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-26480686|title='Intelligent' pedestrian crossings trialled in London|work=BBC News|date=7 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2014/march/tfl-to-launch-worldleading-trials-of-intelligent-pedestrian-technology-to-make-crossing-the-road-easier-and-safer|title=TfL to launch world-leading trials of intelligent pedestrian technology to make crossing the road easier and safer|author=Transport for London |work=tfl.gov.uk}}</ref>
*The prominent [[neon sign]] "Roberts for Ekcovision" installed by a former electrical shop in the 1950s on Bedford Hill was restored in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Restored and brightly lit 'Roberts for Ekcovision' neon sign shines light on a piece of Balham history |url=https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/news-december-2022/restored-and-brightly-lit-roberts-for-ekcovision-neon-sign-shines-light-on-a-piece-of-balham-history/ |work=Wandsworth Borough Council|date=14 December 2022|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref name="HOLT">{{cite web |title=Roberts for Ekcovision Sign |url=https://www.heritageoflondon.org/projects/roberts-for-ekcovision-sign |work=Heritage of London Trust|language=en}}</ref>{{efn|The Roberts store rented out the "Ekcovision" brand of [[television sets]] manufactured by the British electronics company E. K. Cole Ltd (aka [[EKCO]]).<ref>{{cite web |title='Ekcovision' TMB272 mains/battery portable television, 1956 {{!}} Science Museum Group Collection |url=https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co34474/ekcovision-tmb272-mains-battery-portable-television-1956-television-receiver |website=sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> The advertisement was proposed for the shop by EKCO and is positioned to be viewed by passengers on mainline trains passing through Balham station.<ref name="HOLT" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Balham, Roberts Ekcovision advertisement, from the station - geograph.org.uk - Wikimedia Commons |url=https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balham,_Roberts_Ekcovision_advertisement,_from_the_station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2502553.jpg |website=commons.wikimedia.org |language=en}}</ref>}}
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