This man's evening shirt, with its wide, stiffened front, was worn for
formal evening occasions. It was made in 1924 by Holdron, a draper based
at 110-126 Balham High Road. The owner wore it with a dress coat and
waistcoat which were both made in Uxbridge.
Balham
Balham began to develop as a residential area in the 1850s. The opening of
the railway station in Chestnut Grove in 1856 speeded up its growth as a
London suburb. The railway enabled people to live in Balham and commute
into work in central London. Increasing numbers of people moved away from
the overcrowded areas of central London and into the more spacious houses
and healthier environment of Balham.
Building houses
In the 1860s Daniel Dendy built more than 80 properties in the area. He
named Dendy Street after himself and Kate Street after his daughter. Many
parts of Balham have hardly changed since that time.
