The Cabbies’ Shelters Of Old London
Created between 1875 and 1914, sixty of these structures were built by the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund established by the Earl of Shaftesbury to enable cabbies to get a meal without leaving their cabs unattended and were no larger than a horse and cart so they might stand upon the public highway.
Today, only thirteen remain but all are grade II listed and, on my pilgrimage around London in the sunshine, I found them welcoming homely refuges where a cup of tea can be had for just 50p.
Thurloe Place, SW7
Embankment Place, Wc2
Wellington Place, NW8
Chelsea Embankment, SW3
Grosvenor Gardens, SW1
St Georges Sq, SW1
Kensington Park Rd, W11
Temple Place, WC2
Warwick Ave, W9
Russell Sq, WC1
Kensington Rd, W8
Pont St, SW1
Hanover Sq, W1
The shelter attendant at Wellington Place has special spoon-bending powers
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One of them is featured in this old Marty Feldman sketch which screened about the time “The Battle Of Britain” was released…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wE-iE4l3Js
What happened to the one on Whitechapel Road that I remember?
I remember the original cabbie shelter by the rank on Haven Green, close to Ealing Broadway Station, London W5
From an online search: “H-B Designs were engaged to re-design and build a new replacement for the defuncabman’s shelter on Haven Green in Ealing London in 2012”
https://uk.pinterest.com/teamhb/london-cabmans-shelters/
I don’t think I ever noticed the one on Kensington park road. They really blend in don’t they?
I’m not sure why but I’ve always loved these structures – I think it makes me nostalgic for when I first moved to London in my late teens. Thanks for giving us a sneak peak inside too!
They are super ! We went for a drink in the Prince Alfred which is just down the road from Warwick Avenue, and thought we would go and say hello to the shelter! As we stood there our popped Paul Weller to put his rubbish in recycling!! Bonus x
I used to stop at the one by the Royal Free NW3 very early in the morning for a cup of tea.
I love small buildings like these. In Basel we have stone ones that were originally for the trams, they are Swiss Art Nouveau period and very pretty. Most have been turned into kiosks selling newspapers, soft drinks, confectionery and other goods. One by the tramlines along the street from me is a small clubhouse. The police boxes in Edinburgh became coffee stalls years ago.
I always loved the Cabbies shelters, and they are elsewhere in the country too, with an especially nice one on the market place on Ripon, North Yorkshire.
I got my badge in 1974 and used to eat at Kensington Pk Rd run by Spanish Joe who was also a green badge driver. The shelter ran on gas, not electricity, lighting was by gas mantles. Joe made a fabulous paella on a Friday night which had to be pre-ordered. There were a couple of much older Jewish drivers who were great characters and taught us a lot about life and the trade.
Joe left it and I moved to eat at The Pier by Albert Bridge, again full of characters. Happy days. Thank for the posting.