- Du Cane Court
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Du Cane Court is an Art Deco apartment block on Balham High Road, Balham, south London. A distinctive local landmark, it was opened in 1937 and, with 676 apartments, is the largest privately owned block of flats under one roof in Europe.[citation needed] It is so distinctive (at least from a great height in the air) that it was reputedly used as a navigational landmark by German pilots bombing London during the Second World War.[citation needed]
It was a popular place to live for many music hall stars in the 1930s and '40s and boasted a social club, on the top floor, before the area was converted into flats. Past residents have included the comedian Tommy Trinder.[1] Currently comedian and writer Arthur Smith, the self-styled 'Bard of Balham', is a resident.
It is rumoured that Du Cane Court was to be the chosen seat of government for Hitler's invasion should his armies successfully conquer the British,[2][3] though no documentary evidence exists to prove this theory.
References
- ^ Vincent, Gregory K. (2008). A history of Du Cane Court : land, architecture, people and politics. Woodbine. ISBN 0954167511.
- ^ Taw, Susannah. "Streets of London: Chestnut Grove, SW12". Time Out. http://www.timeout.com/london/property/features/3511/Streets_of_London-Chestnut_Grove_SW12.html.
- ^ Noble, Heather. "The Story of Bevin's Babes". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/67/a2872767.shtml.
External links
- Du Cane Court website[dead link]
- Shows up well on aerial photos
- Map sources for Du Cane Court
Coordinates: 51°26′29″N 0°09′25″W / 51.44149°N 0.15681°W
Categories:- Buildings and structures in Wandsworth
- Art Deco buildings in London
- 1937 architecture
- London building and structure stubs
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