Head to Russell Square and you’ll notice a small green hut on the north side that rather resembles a garden shed. But what is it really? London cabs have been licensed since 1639, and by 1860 around 4,600 hackney carriages were plying the streets. Being outside in all weathers was hard on the drivers. In 1875, a charitable group was established to set up dedicated shelters like this one where cabbies could stop for a meal and a rest between fares. Today, you can still find 13 of the cabman’s shelters scattered around London.
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