Brudenell Road was built around the turn of the twentieth century. It was named after George Brudenell-Bruce, the 4th Marquess of Ailesbury (1863–1894) by his widow, Lady Brudenell-Bruce who financed the building of All Saints Church, a little way along the street in 1906. Lady Brudenell-Bruce wanted to place the church in a ’godless part of South London’ and Tooting was chosen!
The church is known for its interior – referred to as ‘The Cathedral of South London’ by John Betjeman. It is also renowned for its acoustics which has attracted recording artists such as Paul McCartney, Luciano Pavarotti and Kiri Te Kanawa. There are regular concerts here.
Opposite the Upper Tooting Road end of the street are the oldest surviving original buildings in the area from the late 17th century.
The nearby Balham Telephone and Labour Exchange (built in 1937) was where comedian Paul Merton worked here for seven years as a clerical officer.
