Exploring London's 13 Historic Taxi Shelters
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 มิ.ย. 2024
- London's green Cabmen's Shelters have been a distinctive part of the city since 1875.
In this video I'll be telling you all about their intriguing history, where you can find the 13 surviving examples, and how you too can make use of them!
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:20 London Cabbies in the 19th Century
04:38 Britain's First Cab Shelter
06:47 The Cabmen's Shelter Fund
09:09 London's First Cab Shelter
10:59 Early Cab Shelter Design
14:36 A New Design
17:01 London's Cab Shelters Today
18:12 Russell Square WC2
19:31 Chelsea Embankment SW3
20:28 St George's Square SW1
20:50 Grosvenor Gardens SW1
21:32 Pont Street SW1
22:05 Thurloe Place SW7
22:39 Kensington Road SW7
24:09 Kensington Park Road W11
25:09 Warwick Avenue W9
25:51 Wellington Place NW8
26:43 Hanover Square W1
27:18 Embankment Place WC2
28:02 Temple Place WC2
***
Thank you so much to all of you who support my channel with your kind words, likes and shares.
If you're feeling extra generous, you can also support my work with a tip via either the TH-cam 'thanks' button (which appears as a heart icon below the video), or alternatively, via my Ko-fi account:
ko-fi.com/robslondon
Any such financial donations are of course greatly appreciated, and they really do help when it comes to creating content.
I have an online store too- robsonlinedesigns- where you can purchase an array of London themed mugs, featuring hand illustrated designs of taxis, tube trains, buses and so on:
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/robsonli...
My other links:
Twitter:
/ cabmirror
Instagram:
robert_lord...
Thanks again for watching, friends. Stay well, and please be sure to stay tuned!
***
Links for this video:
Russell Square Shelter
/ russellsqcabhut
Cafe Pier
/ cafepier_chelsea
St George's Square Shelter
restaurantguru.com/St-Georges...
Grosvenor Gardens Shelter
/ grosvenorgdns
Kensington Road Shelter (Luba's Green Hut)
/ lubasgreenhut
Kensington Park Road Shelter
parkshelter?lang=...
***
Credits
IMAGES:
Manchester Cab painting: Manchester Art Gallery
Langham Place Shelter: The London Wanderer
Old Shelter Photo: Cabbieblog
Kensington Park Road Shelter 1987: Chelsea News & General Advertiser
Alexandra Palace; Russ London, Creative Commons
Cab Shelter 1910: The Sphere
London Taxi with fire fighting equipment: London Fire brigade
Cafe de Paris image: Andy Mabbett, Creative Commons
Cab Shelter 3D Model: Artfletch
sketchfab.com/artfletch
St John’s Wood Church: Creative Commons, Wikipedia
Bersey Taxi: Vauxford, Creative Commons
***
MUSIC
Light Sting by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Blue Danube (Strauss)
Prelude No. 17 by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: chriszabriskie.com/preludes/
Artist: chriszabriskie.com/
Ceremonial Library (Asher Fulero)
Angels We Have Heard - Christmas by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Butterflies in Love (Sir Cubworth)
Billy Goat Stomp (Joel Cummins)
Bottle smash sound effect (Inspector J, Creative Commons via free sound.org)
Cocktail Houe (Aaron Kenny)
Prelude No. 12 by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: chriszabriskie.com/preludes/
Artist: chriszabriskie.com/
Lark sound; reinsamba, Creative Commons
Fine Dining (TrackTribe)
Bomb sound: djfroyd, Creative Commons
Telephone sound: mycompasstv
Home for the Holidays (TrackTribe)
My father in law was a cabbie. His two daughters remember him taking them into a shelter when they were kids. Believe it was the Victoria shelter. They are both in their 60's now and it is such a fond memory. RIP Harry Smith. A good man who's thought of often.
Beautiful comment Richard.
Thank you Rob that was so interesting. I almost feel ashamed, worked in London for 25 years and never bought anything from a cabs shelter. Next time i am in town I will make sure i do, we need to all try to keep our history alive.
Thank you so much Jason- and there is no need to feel like that, they’re quite well hidden! Stay well mate.
@@Robslondon I'd heard they were set up as a ''teetotal' place, too ''The horse world of London'' 1890's}where the Cabbies could get a hot drink of tea, and to be out of the rain and cold wind as opposed to brandy to keep the cold out.
Horse troughs served the horses who need a lot of water per day.
What a brilliant history lesson
Thank you. Brings back memories of my late mum, who took me to cafe's, fancy hidden resturants, quaint pubs, and green taxi shelters. She made my childhood a fantasy wonderland. ❤
A simply beautiful comment ☺️ Thank you for sharing that.
Although I've never been to London, I love how these Taxi Shelters have been adapted to the realities of the 21st Century (electric car chargers, bike racks, take-away bistro menus), letting them continue to be a thriving and vital part of their local neighborhoods. Thanks, Rob, for another wonderful video!
Lovely comment; much agreed and thank you!
I lived in St John's Wood for a very long time and walked by that shelter every day. Seeing it makes me so happy. And nostalgic! Thank you.
Lovely comment, thank you!
It wasn’t only cabmen who sheltered in these cabins. On cold nights I admit I would sneak a break and sit inside in the warmth with both hands around a hot mug of tea, when I was supposed to be working my beat. Sometimes the Sergeant would pop his had round the corner of the door to make sure there were no policemen inside. When this happened, the cabmen would crowd around to hide the miscreant.
Ha ha ;-) Nice comment, thanks for sharing.
The British equivalent of the doughnut shop!
Dear Rob, I just want to apologise that it has taken me nearly two weeks to watch your latest superb video. Every time I tried to view it my dear wife insisted I watch another 'hilarous' cat video on Instagram. Fortunately she is at her work's Christmas party tonight, so I was able to pour myself a single malt whisky, relax on the sofa and view your latest TH-cam gem. Even our cat waited until I had watched it before demanding it's dinner. What a perfect Saturday.
David, thank you so much! A lovely comment; made my evening 😉 Thanks for your support and stay well.
I believe, when they were designing and building the hotel referred to in relation to the Temple Place shelter, that the designers planned a driveway that would've been partially blocked by the shelter. Not understanding the historical significance (and listed status) of the shelters, they assumed they could just move it or have it demolished to make way for their posh new hotel. While they were able to finally have the shelter moved, I believe it cost them quite a bit, including a hefty donation to the Cabmens' Shelter Fund.
Thanks; yes I’m not sure how much it cost but I believe it was a lot as you say.
My dad told me of these way back in the 80’s, he used to drive low loader lorry’s into London, usually in the middle of the night, as they were very wide and heavy loads, I used to ride with him as a ‘second man’ and back in 87 the winter was very hard and we got stuck in London in the middle of the night, the only place to get a hot drink and a sausage sandwich at 3:00am was a cabbies shelter, it was about -5 outside and we were both frozen to the bone, I can still fill the warmth of that cuppa.
My Dads too old to drive now but he sometime comes out in my lorry now, and we’ve always tried to use cabbie shelters as much as we can. Things like these need to be preserved.
Love your videos. ❤
Beautiful comment and memory Kevin, thank you so much- enjoyed reading that 😉 Best wishes to your Dad.
My Grandfather was a London Cabbie in the Auxiliary Fire Service during WW2. I tried to do some research on his old number and the cabs he drove. Unfortunately, it seems all old records from that period in time were destroyed. This is really interesting and useful information for anyone who’s interested in the history.
Thank you so much Chris. Very sad though that those records were lost; full respect to your Grandfather.
An absolutely classic episode of Rob's London - slightly unusual, slightly quirky, but packed full of insight and history that truly deserves to be kept alive! I subscribe to God knows how many TH-cam channels, but there are only about five where I actively look forward to the next video - and yours is one of them, Rob. 👍👍👍
Bless you, that means a lot to me tragicyouth. Hope you're keeping well and thank you as ever for your wonderful support :-)
Wonderful documentary, so many details! I love the green paint colour - My paternal grandfather was from London, and the house he built in a suburb of Montreal after WW1 was painted that colour green, and brings back great memories from my childhood in the 1960s.
Ah, that’s lovely! Thanks for sharing, Barbara ☺️
I'd love to have a cup of tea from one of these little shelters. Someday...
Hope you manage to before long robbicu- their tea is honestly really good 😉
Sunday evening cooking the roast whilst watching a new RobsLondon video... what more can a man want 👏
Thank you so much 😊 Cooking our roast at the moment too! 😉
To actually be eating the Sunday roast, as I am now! 😂
Damn it Rob now I really want to put, "enjoy a mug of tea and a sausage roll from a genuine London Cabbie Shelter" on my bucket list. You are really going to keep me busy in my retirement! Thanks again for another fascinating look at London and it's history.
Ha ha! Cheers Paul, hope you get to tick that box soon ;-)
I have long wanted to have a cup of tea at one of these shelters. Next time I am in London, I shall do so! Wonderful idea, and much appreciated by cabbies for 150 years!
Nice comment, thank you!
I love visiting London ever since I first visited as a student in 1996. I learned about these cab shelters well after that though and the last time I was there in 2018 I finally made it to one. The Embankment shelter. It was a definite pleasure. The woman running it was super sweet, I got a great bacon butty, it was super cheap, and it was easily one of the best cups of tea I had in London. I have a great respect for the great London cabbies fit all they do and know and how great their company is. There are a lot of things I still want to do the next time I’m in London but I wouldn’t mind making a mission to try and hit all 13 of these one day. Thanks for a great video!
Beautiful comment antkneecampy, thank you. Yes, I've always found the staff to be very friendly in all the shelters; a good bunch of down to earth people.
I managed to do all 13 in one day when filming but it was tough going! (As you an see, the tour starts in the morning ends in the evening!) Think I covered about 14 miles as I did it on foot... I'll use a cab next time!
Cheers and stay well ;-)
Fabulous, your research is so thorough, I hope your channel is thriving because it deserves to, one You Tubes little Gems. ❤
That means a lot to me Kerry. Thank you ☺️
The best London taxi shelter film on TH-cam by a country mile. Hopefully your subscribers will share your videos on as many social media sites as possible. Your channel is one of the very best and i predict great things for you Rob.
Thank you 🙂
As always interesting video with an impressive amount of research.
Thank you 😊
When last in London I saw one of these unique structures and wondered what they were. Thank you for enlightening me. They have quite a story to tell, and their service to the community is first rate. I'd say whatever was expended in constructing, operating, and maintaining them was money spent. Thanks, Rob, for another well-research, well-written, well-illustrated, and well-produced tutorial.
Lovely comment Paul, and you're very welcome! Stay well.
I absolutely love your snapshots and tours around london. I lived in streatham and Norwood as a child and we moved out in 1969.However it's lovely to go back and visit the city through your eyes
Lovely comment Lynn, thank you so much. Stay well.
Thanks Rob for another highly interesting look at London life. Most people, especially tourists, walk past these shelters and probably never wonder what purpose they serve. You made reference to the shelter in Ripon, Yorkshire. It was constructed in Norwich in 1911 by Boulton and Paul - the company that also built huts for Scott’s ill-fated Antarctic expedition of 1910-13. It’s recently, at great cost, been restored. Another obscure link to Norwich lies with the aforementioned book Black Beauty. Written by Anna Sewell a native of Norfolk, in 1877, it was published by the Norwich printers Jarrold & Son - my first employer! At the risk of being an annoying pain in the rear, with reference to the Kensington Park Road shelter you mentioned that the Earl of Shaftesbury who opened the refurbished shelter was an “ancestor” of the seventh earl. I know you meant to say descendant.
Many thanks Mark. I had no idea the shelter was built in Norwich.
And yes, Anna Sewell was from Norfolk; I’d love to visit her former home which I believe is now a museum?
Black Beauty did its bit for the cab trade, new laws were introduced after that heartbreaking book was published. Stay well.
This has got to 'rank' as one of your best videos ever Rob. So much well researched information, and history. I follow the Kensington Park Road shelter on Twitter, so I will share this video with them. It seems ages since I mentioned to you that I thought a Cabbies Shelter video would be a good idea, but it was well worth waiting for. Hope you're well Rob.
Bless you Barry, much appreciated. Hope you’re keeping well my friend.
Your videos are always so interesting and well researched, produced and narrated.
This one is no exception.
I really appreciate that, thank you.
I don’t know how you come up with these ideas🤷♂️but please don’t stop 👍🏻👏🏻
I’ll keep going Russel, don’t you worry 😉 Cheers and stay well.
Appreciate all the research that went into this Rob. As an ex King's College student, the Temple Place one would have to be my favorite.
Thank you pj_naylor…. Good choice 😉
I can't wait to watch your video on London's first electric cabs.
I’ll see what I can do Ian 😉
Great content. I love it once again. Thank you Robert. 👍👍👍😍😍😍
Hey Sharon; thank you as always 😉 Hope you’re keeping well.
This episode was so good I watched it twice. This is the real history of London. Once again Rob thanks for all of your hard work 😀 Happy Holiday's to you and yours!
Such a lovely comment Johnny, thank you! Cheers for the views (they really do help, believe me), and happy holidays to you too! Stay well ;-)
Thank you so much for this interesting history. I live in Melbourne, Australia, and we had these from 1898, modelled after the London examples. A few still survive.
Lovely comment, thank you! Did you see one of the Aussie shelters in the video? I included a brief picture 😉🇦🇺
@@Robslondon oh, I will have to go back and look. Awesome.
What a nice subject. I have walked past them thousands of times but rarely think about them or the history.
Thank you so much robbojax. Hope you’re keeping well.
Well done mate. I’ve lived in London my whole life and always wondered what they were! Very deep and very original video. Thank you.
Thank you so much, lovely comment 😉
@@Robslondon honestly I watched this video and was amazed with how little useless fluff there was. It was direct and to the point. Have you considered doing a londons deepest video or widest. Sorry if you already have I’ve litrally just found your channel earlier today and just watched your tallest things in London video
What lovely little structures! I wish I had one in my back yard.
Now there’s an idea 😄
Your videos are really delightful, great historical insights into life in London
That's very kind of you to say Bik, thank you my friend.
Hi Rob, thoroughly enjoyed this one as usual. I imagine if they had the glass windows today they would go the way of so many telephone boxes! . A brilliant idea for the cabmen but still feel sorry for the poor horses left out in the elements 💕🦆
Thank you Pam; you echo my thoughts exactly. Stay well 😉
I haven't visited but passed a few when I lived down south.
Excellent video.
Really appreciate that Lorna, thank you. Stay well.
A very pleasant little documentary.
Thank you Patrick 😄
Great Rob! Always a joy! Can't wait for the episode on the electric 'humming bird' cabs!
Ha ha, cheers Wayne 😉
Heyas Rob, now you shown all the shelters together I now realise the one i mentioned to you is the Hanover Square one, thanks. Well I never, once again Mancs was one of the first cities outside of London to have a cabbies shelter, and its never mentioned on local Mancs history pages. I need to dig into it more. I live in the Seymour Grove area (Old Trafford) and my brother sent me a pictoral postcard link to Seymour Grove/Trafford Bar/White City amusement park when Handsom cabs, new fangled trams and trains were prominent transport. Luckily a lot of the buildings have survived and the area's are still green leafy suburbs. Enouhh of my ramblings, Cheers DougT in Mancs
Many thanks Doug!
Remember, Mancs was THE first to have a shelter 😉 and I really wanted to tell people that. I think it deserves a plaque; an important piece of working class history.
Cheers mate and stay well.
Fantastic- I've been walking past these since 1987, and occasionally wondered why they were there - now we know! Thanks.
It's a pleasure :-) Thanks for the kind words
Fascinating video. I'm putting these on my bucket list for my trip to London this fall. Thanks so much!
Ah, wonderful! Thanks for the kind words; hope you have a great time here 😉
Really interesting post. I don't have a favorite as they all have such different stories. I didn't realize how far back they went. I am sure the first lot of cab drivers were thrilled to come in out of the rain. There should have been something for the poor horses. Always enjoy your posts so much.
Thanks so much Lesley.
Agree about the horses; there were suggestions made that they should have stables at each shelter too, but the space required sadly wasn’t practical.
Definitely the most in depth video about cab shelters on TH-cam!
Thank you Rachel!
Another grest one Rob, fascinating snipits of our capital city. I used to live very near a busy shelter, the best bacon rolls you'll get. 😊
Thank you! 😄
Truly fascinating. Who would think, these all-but-invisible, little green huts, were so interesting. Top notch video!
That's so kind of you to say piepowered, thank you :-)
Excellent video, next time I am in London I will pay a visit to one of these shelters. Your videos are always so great! :))))))))
Many thanks indeed! Hope you enjoy getting a cup of tea from one 😉
Thank you Rob. I’ve now watch a few of your videos and consequently now subscribed to your channel. You present the videos in a very relaxing manor with none of the faff found in other TH-cam videos.
I’ve just watched the one on the cabby cafe’s. Interesting to see electric taxis once adorned the streets of London. With a new error of London electric taxis round the corner, maybe these cabby Cafes will be reinvigorated for the taxi drivers?
Lovely comment Frankie, thank you so much. It's good to have you here. Stay well and thanks again.
Thanks Rob for sharing this history. I knew about them but haven't seen one. Next time I visit London I'm going to seek one out for a cup of tea!
Thanks Deb; and yes- please do! Well worth it 😉
thank you rob dear for another super video. i'm always utterly blown away by how very many strands you weave into your wonderful videos. i'm particularly happy about this one because my dear brother-in-law is a cabbie in a small town in northern greece - and he uses a cabbie shelter. i've just bought one of your adorable cabbie shelter mugs from your etsy shop as a present for him! ❤❤❤
Thank you so, so much hellie_el that means a lot to me.
I used to work as a London cabbie myself; please send my best regards to your brother in law from me, one cabbie to another 🇬🇷 Thanks again and stay well.
@@Robslondon ❤️❤️❤️
@@Robslondon hi ya rob! i've already received the sweet cabbie shelter mug, and it's just lovely! 💚💚💚 i'll pass along your regards to my brother-in-law when i give him the mug. ❤
Bob, I'm back in the UK for this video. Yet another superlative presentation, excellent daytime and nighttime photography, good background music set at the right pitch. Thanks for all the effort and time you take in creating your videos.
You’re a gentleman Butch, many thanks indeed. Hope you’re having a good time back in this cold climate! 😄
Yep, that was brilliant. I want to go on a little mission to visit them all.
Great work Rob. Keep it up fella. 👊🏼👍🏼
Really appreciate that Richard, thank you. Stay well mate and enjoy your visits 😉
We have your cab shelter mug (as well as the Elizabeth line one and the cockney rhyming slang one), so it was extra interesting to find out the history of the shelters! I hope to someday get a coffee from one ☕
It was also nice to see some of the Christmas decorations already - in these short dark days I'll take some cheer wherever I can find it!
Thanks for all the hard work you put into these videos 👏🫖🌟
Such a lovely comment Deborah, thank you- and thank you too for your custom with the mugs!
Yes, I didn't plan to have the video 'Christmassy' (there will be a Christmas special...) but London looked beautiful, with the lights being rather appropriate as the Cabmen's Shelter fund was established during Christmas :-)
Thanks very much again and stay well.
Nice video! I never noticed these historic shelters.
Thank you! 😊
As ever, another great video, thanks for your insight into something you see but never think about, keep it up 😊
Much appreciated Robert, thank you!
All the time I
Ioved in London and never knew so much information, or that you could purchase from the hatch as a punter! Born and raised Londoner too! Next time I’m visiting I shall remember this!
Ha ha! Go for it 😉
@@Robslondon thanks guvnor😀
Going in…….already know it’s going to be brilliant.
Thank you! Enjoy 😉
TY-Robb. A nice little piece of a civil comfort.
Thanks Robert :-)
My Grandfather, Henry James (Harry) Moore was a cabbie for most of his life. Beginning with a Hansom Cab he had nothing but good to say about those who paid for and built these Cab Shelters. He moved out to Harrow with his wife Jessie around 1910 and operated the first ever Motor Taxi cab in the area from Harrow on the Hill Railway Station and for many years thereafter. His last Taxi was an Austin Low Loader and was still in existence some 20 years ago having been restored by a Harrow Cabbie and looked after by him.
This was a lovely comment, thank you so much for taking the time to write... I used to be a cabbie and I grew up in Harrow.
Jessie James fantastic
@@Robslondon Would love to know if that cab is still around or what happened to it. I was very fond of my Grandparents as they bought me up for my first five years during WW 2. I have lived in NZ for many years but still miss Harrow sometimes.
@@charlesjames799 Jessie ran a second hand shop on the Harrow side of the Wealdstone Railway bridge. She traded successfully for many years. I was very fond of my Grandmother.
That's cool! Thank you so much! If I am ever able to travel to London, I will definitely find one of these to have breakfast or lunch. Thank you!
Thanks Jay; enjoy! 😉
Fascinating! Thank you for the education about these as with all your videos.
Thank you! It’s a pleasure
I found another video that just popped up and greatly enjoyed over breakfast! Having a past connection to cabs, it was great! Thank you Rob
Cheers! ;-)
Thanks Rob, a fascinating video as always.
Thank you, it’s a pleasure 😊
Good piece Rob. A feature of London's streetscape that's rarely commented on.
Thanks very much, really appreciate your kind words 😉
in the 1963 film, Carry on Cabbie, a lot of the scenes were shot in a Cabman's Shelter. Interesting to see some of the culture which defined these rest areas.
Another excellent Sunday evening video.
It’s an absolute pleasure. Thank you for watching.
Excellent! Very informative and entertaining.
Much appreciated! Thank you 😊
Brilliant little video, loved this bit of London history.
Thank you so much Tony 😊
yay! Rob's here!
😊
Really interesting video much more informative than any other mentions of these shelters .
That's really kind of you to say, thanks Anthony.
So much knowledge there rob thank you beautiful Christmas lights and the huts are looking smart can't choose as they all have something special ❤
Thank you Tracy 😊 Yes, it was unintentionally Christmassy! 😄
@@Robslondon it was brill for ascetics and they looked good this year ❤️
Just found your channel and immediately subscribed. I lived in London for 3 years and I never spotted one of these. I will be on the lookout when I next visit.
Thank you so much Alliejay; it’s great to have you here 😄
Just found this channel, it's good stuff. "Liked and Subscribed" as the youth say.
Thanks Dan, it’s nice to have you here!
Been to the shelter at Russel Square last holiday: nice people and a good selection of teas. Recommended.
I second that 😉
Thank you for highlighting these lovely buildings, I will look out for them now.
It's a pleasure, thank you for watching.
Great post shall be visiting london in 24 and will go visit the shelters.
Cheers Tony! Have fun ;-) (Just be sure to check the opening times; most close in the afternoon!)
Enjoyed this very much Rob, such hard times they endured and the poor Horses too.
Thank you Anne. Yes, it’s heartbreaking to think of those times…. Stay well
I remember seeing the one near Pimlico station all the time when I was there in 2005. Never appeared to be open, but i didn’t really understand what it was at that time. Hopefully I’ll get back to London and I’ll make it a point to visit as many of these as I can to get a cup of tea (and maybe a bite to eat). Thank you for this great video!
Thank you so much! As you probably guessed watching the video, the shelter you saw was the one on St George’s Square 😉 Hope you make it back here soon
Stunningly well-researched. Thank you.
Thank you so much. It’s a pleasure.
Still the best Cab Driver's in the World any time I'm in town its a pleasure to use Hackney Cabs, Fascinating Subject Rob 🇬🇧🍻
Well said DC, thank you (coming from someone who did indeed used to be a London cabbie) ;-)
That was delightful in every respect. Thank you.
That means a lot to me Andy, thank you.
Such an interesting story. Your research is so thorough and the videos are so well-illustrated. Thank you.
Thank you Roderic!
Roderick your a very generous kind man.
Probably whilst watching the bit with Victoria Wood visiting cabbies in one of the shelters, her statue in Bury was being toppled over by a taxi ! That's gratitude for you as Rob would say.
Oh no! Didn't know about that!
So good I'm going watch it again right now. Thanks.
Thank you!
Super Rob,in Bradford my home town had a cab shelter in 1879,the growlers you mentioned is what us we up north call pork pies.Some of these cab shelters look pretty much like the later horse drawn tram,thanks for super video as always.Cheers Nick
Brilliant comment Nicholas, thank you… pork pies? I love that 😄 Do you know what the reasoning was behind it?
The “NAAFI growler” was also British Army slang for a hot steak and kidney pie from a vending machine, at least back in the ‘70s - 90’s.
Superb part of London History very well put together as ever. Great stuff, keep the black cabs and red buses going forever i say 😊
Cheers Chris; couldn’t agree more 😉
I'm from the North West of England and whilst I've been to London several times, I've never seen or heard about these shelters before. A really great informative video
Much appreciated, thank you!
I think the design inspiration is a railway carriage. Much shorter, obviously and making them deliberately mobile on wheels is genius.
Nice comment.
I really enjoyed this - thank you for rhe depth and detail. I have recently had to leave London and am really feeling homesick. Your videos provide such a remedy! Thanks again, I love your work.
Bless you, that means a lot to me, thank you so much. Glad I can help in some small way.
I’ll have a Christmas special out soon so please be sure to stay tuned for that, I think you’ll like it!
Thanks again and stay well.
Rob, thank you for this video. I was so interested in these green little huts when I was in London early this year and searched some basic info, but your video was so well done and complete. I hope to visit one soon for a bap or a cuppa.
That means a lot to me thank you so much; I wanted to make the video as comprehensive as possible as their history deserves to be told. Thanks again and stay well.
Absolutely lovely. Thank you. Brought back warm memories of when I lived in London. I realised I've seen quite a few of the shelters.
Thanks so much gary 😉
Absolutely loved this video Rob, thank you.
I grew up literally down the road from the Warwick Avenue shelter, so that has to be my favourite.
Lovely comment Slycockney, thank you 😉 Hope you’re keeping well
Another brilliant video, I shall certainly look at these more closely from now on, and maybe even buy a coffee😊
Thanks Tomgirl! Much appreciated ;-)
I've had some of my crappiest lunches and wateriest coffees served at these shelters, but on a dismal day they were still hearty welcome. Someone suggested to me that there was a different menu for cabbies or the public. I was working as a motorcycle courier at the time. Although not technically allowed; one dull day, when no cabbies were about, the proprietor invited me to dine inside, which was very kind. I inferred from her that they worked on a franchise basis and that franchisees were free to exercise discretion. That was in Kensington Park Road...
I don’t think there’s a secret menu… 😉
Another very interesting video Rob. So much history, to such a small piece of furniture. I never knew Manchester had cab shelters either. Will definitely pay one a visit, the next time I'm down.
Thanks so much Paul! Yes, I didn’t know about the Manchester connection either until I researched this video; I think there should be a plaque there as it’s an important piece of working class history. Stay well 😉
Thanks Rob very interesting I’ve used a few of these on my trips to London
Cheers Nigel 😉
Brilliant video Rob, definitely up to your usual high standard !it brought back some great memories of using them especially the shelter in Kensington Park Road.The keeper was Ruth who made the best pies and on Fridays the fish and chips was a special treat.There were some colourful and genuine cabmen who were always ready for a lively discussion.Their generosity for charity was exemplary .BE LUCKY..Barry Southern
A beautiful comment, Barry. Thank you my friend and stay well.
There must be a good walk connecting all the cab shelters. Sounds like a little project for me 😀
You can do them in a loop… took me about 7 hours though 😂
What an excellent video,first time watching your channel it’s great!
Thank you so much Stuart 😊
Excellent, just Excellent!
Bless you Andrew, thank you! 😊