Place Name
Features on Stanford’s 1964 Library Map of London and its Environs as Leigham Court Road or St Julian’s Road, but by 1870 the former name was being exclusively used. As the main manor house of Streatham Leigham Court was extensive, it fact it was so vast that it has been speculated that it may have been the name of an actual hamlet – if so, it is now lost – whatever the case it became the name of a large parcel of land in northern Streatham that included modern Balham, once a mere hamlet in Streatham parish. The name was first recorded in 1165 as Leygham, becoming Legham in 1259, Leyham in 1291 and Leighams Courte in 1541. The name comes from the Old English words lœge and Hamm, meaning the fallow or unploughed enclosure with the addition of the Middle English word court, meaning manor house. Until the dissolution of the monasteries, Henry VIII’s land grab against the Roman Catholic Church, the estate was held by Bermondsey Abbey, but was sold in the mid-16thCentury to private landowners, eventually being snapped up by the wealthy Howland family of Streatham, who later married into the family of the Dukes of Bedford. The Bedfords, never slow to extend their and land holdings, added Leigham Court to their wider Streatham estate in 1627. But the story did not end there. In May 1849 the following advertisement appeared in The Times: “LEIGHAM COURT, a Freehold Estate, situate on Streatham-hill, four miles and a half from Westminster Bridge, consisting of a singularly elegant mansion, with offices, gardens, grounds, lawns, out-buildings, and about 74 acres of capital meadow land, of which a portion has a frontage on the London and Croydon-road, eligible for the erection of villas. The rapid increase of superior houses in the vicinity justifies the expectation that a large portion of this estate will eventually be appropriated to building purposes. The house is of Greek architecture, built a few years since under the direction of, and from plans and designs by, the late Mr Papworth, is a rare and probably unique example of the classic style, adapted to the English climate and domestic comfort, and it is believed cost, with the offices, 20,000/-. The principal suite of rooms on the ground floor, noble in design and just in proportions, are embellished by decorations and ornaments in exquisite taste and in perfect harmony. The interior arrangements are admirable, and would meet the requirements of a large and wealthy family, or of a distinguished personage. Capital offices and stables, judiciously disposed and in good keeping with the house, noble conservatory, lawns, and park like grounds, enriched with forest trees, rare shrubs, belts, clubs, plantations, ornamental bridge, and summer houses, skilfully laid out and arranged, an orchard and walled kitchen garden of the best in the county, pine and melon grounds constructed on the most improved system; a compact farm yard, rick yard, cow pens, barn, piggeries, out-buildings, two cottages. an entrance lodge, and private road to the farm, and about 71 acres of excellent meadow land, lying together in convenient enclosures.” The estate, along with much of the furniture, was sold at auction later that month and bought by John Tredwell, a jolly and generous man, who would put on regular entertainments and fundraisers for the local school. When he died in 1875, he left the estate to his wife along with a number of gifts to charities. When she died 18 years later Maria Tredwell – or Fletcher as she was at the time of death – had disposed of Leigham Court and development had begun in earnest. By the start of the 20thCentury, the streets were, if not complete, well on the way to being. On January 7, 1966 The Times reported that the 28 acre Leigham Court Estate with 1,066 properties had been bought by Lambeth Borough Council for £1.8m.
