13th Cabmen's Shelter in London Listed

The wooden huts were built by the Cabmen's Shelter Fund as much-needed rest stops for licenced cab drivers, at a time when cabs were all horse-drawn.

The first cabmen’s shelter in London was built in 1875. Only 13 of these shelters survive in the city today and they are now all protected as listed buildings, recognising their architectural and historic importance.

The small, distinctive buildings continue to serve modern-day taxi drivers and are still overseen by the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund, which celebrates its 150^th anniversary in 2025.

Only drivers with 'The Knowledge' can take a seat inside but many huts offer takeaway refreshments to the public too.

They are one of the few reminders left on London’s streets of the prevalence of the horse-drawn hansom cab trade in the 19^th century. At the peak of their popularity there were thousands of hansom cabs in the capital. The last hansom cab driver in London stopped operating in 1947.

The familiar size, shape and colour helped cabbies spot the shelters easily. They are all the same proportions – no bigger than a horse and cart as they were on a public highway.

Designs varied over time but the most recognisable 'ornamental' version we see today was the work of architect Maximillian Clarke. The letters CSF for Cabmen’s Shelter Fund can often be found in the decorative fretwork. There’s even an official cabmen’s shelter paint colour – Dulux Buckingham Paradise 1 Green.

All 13 shelters were restored in a campaign by Heritage of London Trust during the 1980s and 1990s. Heritage of London Trust most recently supported the repair of 'The Pier' shelter on Chelsea Embankment by Albert Bridge in 2022.

A brief history of cabmen’s shelters

In Victorian London cabmen were prohibited by law from leaving their cabs unattended in the rank. While on the job there was no protection from the elements, access to hot food or a place to rest. This led many drivers to stop at a pub between fares. They also had to pay someone to look after their cab or risk it being stolen. Stopping for shelter at a pub tempted some cabmen to drink too much, risking their own safety and that of their passengers.

The idea of providing shelters on the ranks was first conceived by Captain George C Armstrong, editor of The Globe newspaper. When Armstrong was unable to get a cab during a storm because the drivers had all sought refuge in local pubs, he decided to band together a group of wealthy and influential philanthropists to provide a solution. He helped establish the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund in London in 1875 with the 7^th Earl of Shaftesbury, providing warm and dry rest stops at ranks along many major thoroughfares across the city. The charity still operates today.

Between 1875 and 1950 sixty-one shelters are known to have been built across London. The first shelter was moveable and was erected in February 1875 on Acacia Road in St John’s Wood, outside Armstrong’s home.

The shelters had a small kitchen and space for around 10 drivers to sit, enjoy a meal and each other’s company. Gambling, drinking and swearing were strictly forbidden.

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