Category: Local History

1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, Local History, Social History

The Publican, Harrier and Worshipful Master: An introduction to Balham CC founder George Huntley


We know from previous finds that George Huntley founded the club in 1897 and the Balham Hotel (now The Regent) was used as the club HQ from 1897 until 1926. Now, fresh research shows a man seemingly destined for the pub trade, well established in the Masonic lodges of South London and who had links to another legendary London sports club still going today. Continue reading The Publican, Harrier and Worshipful Master: An introduction to Balham CC founder George Huntley

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1880s, 1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, Claud Butler, Local History, Memorabilia, Riders

MEMORABILIA: 1932 Handbook reveals Balham CC’s all-star supporting cast


If cycling history is your thing then you’ll understand why at BCC Towers we got very excited seeing the names of WJ Pett, HW Bartleet and JCP Tacagni in a recently obtained 1932 Club Handbook. All three were major players in cycling at the turn of the 20th century and all three are listed as club vice-presidents. Continue reading MEMORABILIA: 1932 Handbook reveals Balham CC’s all-star supporting cast

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1900s, 1910s, Balham & London, Local History, Social History

The King’s Jester and the Balham Motor and Cycle Works


We’ve just got our hands on an old photograph of Balham High Road showing the The Dan Leno Motor and Cycle Works. With Dan Leno featuring in The Limehouse Golem, one of the major films of the year, we thought it timely to investigate the connection between Balham, Leno and Cycling and the story behind the shop that carried his name. Continue reading The King’s Jester and the Balham Motor and Cycle Works

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1880s, Balham & London, Local History, Social History, The South London Diaries

Arab Springs and Rational Jackets: South London cycling in 1884 (Part 1)


This month, we explore the South London Diaries series for the first time since the blog on June 2016.

What are they all about? Well, a 19th century South London cyclist has set a 21st century Strava challenge. He didn’t know it at the time, but when our Victorian trailblazer was writing about rides and times in his diaries for 1884 and 1885, he was chronicling some of the earliest ‘personal bests’ in London on record. Continue reading Arab Springs and Rational Jackets: South London cycling in 1884 (Part 1)

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2010s, Balham CC 2017, Local History

‘The Balham’ rides again on 120th anniversary


The reformed club heads out on its first club ride. 16 hardy South London cycling enthusiasts left the glamorous surroundings of Balham’s Sainsbury’s Car Park for Richmond Park trying to ascertain which pillock decided to launch a club in a January cold snap. Read about this historic moment here Continue reading ‘The Balham’ rides again on 120th anniversary

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1930s, 1940s, 1950s, Balham & London, Balham CC 2017, Balham Rough Stuff / Rough Riders, Local History, Memorabilia, Photographs, Riders

21 years of momentoes, photos and memoirs presented to Club by family of former secretary


Cheryl Button, the daughter of former Balham Cycling Club (BCC) secretary Ken Smith, was in London in November and she had a surprise gift for the soon to be relaunched club. Ken was a member of the BCC between 1936 and 1957 and before his death in 2013, compiled a scrapbook of his most treasured club mementoes and photos. It also included his memoirs spanning 21 years of life as a South London cyclist. Continue reading 21 years of momentoes, photos and memoirs presented to Club by family of former secretary

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1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1930s, Balham & London, Local History, Race Results and Reports, Riders

Wills on Fire: South Londoner smashes coveted 60-in-60 motor-paced world record


In 1908 former Balham CC club amateur turned professional AE Wills broke the coveted motor-paced distance record of 60miles in an hour.
“I almost shudder when I think of my experience in that hour. I was like a man mesmerized, my actions being automatic. The vibration and rapid pedaling seemed to take all the life out of me”.
Here’s his story. Continue reading Wills on Fire: South Londoner smashes coveted 60-in-60 motor-paced world record

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1880s, 1890s, Balham & London, Local History, Social History

The greatest cycling venue London never had: The rise and fall of Balham Hyde Farm


In the early 1890s Hyde Farm, Balham was set to become the premier cycling track in London. By 1896 it had closed with the land to be used for housing, a victim of construction to saturation point of cycling tracks in the good times, cycling’s sudden decline in popularity, and a champion cyclist’s determination to make Herne Hill the capital’s number one venue. Here’s the story of the greatest cycling venue London never had. Continue reading The greatest cycling venue London never had: The rise and fall of Balham Hyde Farm

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