ðɪ ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəl stˈeɪʃən wʌz ɔnðə wˈɛst sˈaɪd ʌv bˈælæm hˈaɪ ɹˈoʊd; ɪt wʌz ɹˌiːsˈaɪɾᵻd baɪ ðɪ ˌɛlbˈiː ænd ˌɛssˌiːˈɑːɹ ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti θɹˈiː æz pˈɑːɹt ʌv wˈɜːks tə wˈaɪdən ðə lˈaɪn, ænd ɪmpɹˈuːv ðə ɹˈaʊt bᵻtwˌiːn ˈiːst kɹˈɔɪdɑːn ænd vɪktˈoːɹiə.
The original station was on the west side of Balham High Road; it was re-sited by the LB&SCR in 1863 as part of works to widen the line, and improve the route between East Croydon and Victoria.