What am I?

Have you ever wondered what the small green huts dotted around central London are for? Well, they were established in 1875 by The Cabmen's Shelter Fund as shelters for the drivers of hansom cabs and later hackney carriages (taxicabs). By law, cab drivers could not leave the cab stand while parked up making it hard to obtain hot meals and shelter from bad weather.These shelters were small green huts, which were not allowed to be larger than a horse and cart, as they stood on the public highway

Between 1875 and 1914, 61 shelters were built around London, the first in St John's Wood, and most were staffed by an attendant who sold food and (non-alcoholic) drink to the cabbies. They had a kitchen for the attendant and cabbies themselves provided food. Seats, tables and reading material were available and most could accommodate ten to thirteen men.

Thirteen of the shelters still exist (left from top are the shelters in Embankment Place and Russell Square) and are still run by the Cabmen's Shelter Fund. All are now Grade II listed buildings. During annual Open House London Heritage Days in September every year, the public gets a chance to see inside some of the shelters.