Cabmen's shelter

1901

West side of Russell Square (formerly in Leicester Square)

Over sixty of these shelters were constructed from1875 onwards with a special fund set up by Lord Shaftesbury, and the support of other philanthropists. [continued below]

Photograph and commentary Jacqueline Banerjee, 2009

[You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]

A plaque on this particular shelter explains that it was presented by Sir Squire Bancroft. A well-known actor-manager, and first president of the council of the RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art; see Weinreb et al. 706), Bancroft had a particularly strong association with London's theatreland, which would account for the shelter's original siting in Leicester Square.

Because of their busy locations, the shelters were restricted in their size: they could only take up as much space as a horse and cart. Nevertheless, they still allowed as many as thirteen cabbies (then notorious for their drinking habits) to sit round a table inside and "restore their flagging spirits with a cheap meal and a hot but non-alcoholic drink" (Weinreb et al. 943). Only a dozen are left now, their locations listed at "Cabmen's Shelters, London" (a "Heritage and History" site).

Related Material

• "Opposite a Cabstand."

Bibliography

Self, Will. “Fare Grounds: the enduring charms of London's cabbie shelters.” The New York Times Style Magazine (December 2, 2012): 118-22.

Weinreb, Ben, et al. The London Encyclopaedia. 3rd ed. London: Macmillan, 2008.

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Last modified 8 December 2012