dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə sˈɛkənd wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ, bˈælæm wʌz wˈʌn ʌv mˈɛni dˈiːp tˈuːb stˈeɪʃənz dˈɛzɪɡnˌeɪɾᵻd fɔːɹ jˈuːs æz ɐ sɪvˈɪliən ˈɛɹ ɹˈeɪd ʃˈɛltɚ.
During the Second World War, Balham was one of many deep tube stations designated for use as a civilian air raid shelter.