Cabmens Shelter - Warwick Avenue, London, UK
N 51° 31.397 W 000° 11.033
30U E 695357 N 5711778
These cabmens shelters, built in the 19th century, are a disappearing feature with only 13 remaining of which this is one.
Waymark Code: WMEZEQ
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/28/2012
Views: 6
The round, circular plaque of grey slate, has the following
inscription:
The restoration of
this shelter in
1994 for the
Cabmens Shelter Fund
was promoted by the
Heritage of
London Trust
with generous assistance from
The City of
Westminster
English Heritage
The Swan Trust
R.T.Z.
The Seven
Pillars of Wisdom Trust
Cluttons
Chesterton
Tha Paddington Waterways
and
Maida Vale Society
The Licencesed Taxi Drivers Association
The
Church Commissioners
and others.
Wikipedia (visit link)
carries an article about the shelters:
"The Cabmen's Shelter Fund was established in London in
1875 to run shelters for the drivers of hansom cabs and later hackney carriages
(taxicabs).
By law, cab drivers could not leave the cab stand while
their cab was parked there. This made it very difficult for them to obtain hot
meals and could be unpleasant in bad weather. If they drove to a pub to buy food
then they would have to pay somebody to look after their cab while they were
inside, otherwise it was likely to be stolen. The Earl of Shaftesbury and other
worthies therefore took it upon themselves to set up a charity to construct and
run shelters at major cab stands.
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 of these buildings were built around London. Most were
staffed by an attendant who sold food and (non-alcoholic) drink to the cabbies
and were provided with a kitchen in which the attendant could cook this food and
also food provided by the cabbies themselves. The attendant was not generally
paid, but was expected to make an income from these sales. The shelters were
also provided with seats and tables and books and newspapers, most of them
donated by the publishers or other benefactors. Most could accommodate ten to
thirteen men. Gambling, drinking and swearing were strictly
forbidden.
Thirteen of the shelters still exist and are still run
by the Cabmen's Shelter Fund. All are now Grade II listed buildings. They are
located at:
Chelsea Embankment SW3 - close to
junction with Albert Bridge, London
Embankment Place WC2 -
close to the Playhouse Theatre
Grosvenor Gardens SW1 - to
the west side of the north gardens
Hanover Square, London
W1 - on the north side of the central gardens
Kensington
Park Road W11 - outside numbers 8-10
Kensington Road W8 -
close to the junction of Queen's Gate SW7
Pont Street SW1
- close to the junction of Sloane Street
Russell Square
WC1 - Western Corner (relocated to here from Leicester
Square)
St. George's Square, Pimlico SW1 - on the north
side
Temple Place WC2 - opposite side of the road from the
Swissötel Howard
Thurloe Place, Kensington SW7 - in the
middle of the road opposite the Victoria and Albert Museum
Warwick Avenue, London W9 - centre of the road, by Warwick Avenue tube
station
Wellington Place NW8 - handy for Lord's Cricket
Ground"
As mentioned in the Wikipedia article these shelters are now
Grade II listed. The entry at English Heritage (visit
link) for this shelter, reads:
"Cabmen's Shelter near junction with Clifton Gardens.
G.V. II Cabmen's Shelter l888. Timber framed with tongue and groove timber
panels and felted hipped roof to eaves. 7 bays by 3 bays. Upper part of wall
largely glazed. Planked door.Stump of fleché to roof. Overhanging eaves with
prominent rafters. One of earliest surviving examples. Erected by Cabmen's
Shelter Fund."