The West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway opened a station named Balham Hill on 1 December 1856, at which time the line ran between Crystal Palace and Wandsworth Common.
ðə wˈɛst ˈɛnd ʌv lˈʌndən ænd kɹˈɪstəl pˈælɪs ɹˈeɪlweɪ ˈoʊpənd ɐ stˈeɪʃən nˈeɪmd bˈælæm hˈɪl ˌɔn wˈʌn dᵻsˈɛmbɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɪks, æt wˌɪtʃ tˈaɪm ðə lˈaɪn ɹˈæn bᵻtwˌiːn kɹˈɪstəl pˈælɪs ænd wˈɔndswɜːθ kˈɑːmən.