3-077-980 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sketches of London Cabs and Cabmen: interior of a cabmen's shelter, 1890. 'A wise and kindly movement, which deserves greater public support, has been fifteen years in progress, to organise the institution of "Cabmen's Shelters," with wholesome refreshments sold at a fair price, and with a little supply of books and papers to read, at the cab-ranks where these men are detained in numbers sufficient to make it worth while...Everybody has seen the "Cabmen's Shelters," of which there are different models and sizes; but those of later construction are decidedly ornamental to the streets, being elegant in design, and often prettily decorated...There is room for eight or ten persons to sit comfortably at table, while the attendant in charge has his separate compartment and kitchen at the end...They have tea or coffee, bread and butter, meat or eggs or bacon, of the best quality and well cooked, at prices regulated by an official tariff. Newspapers, popular magazines, and a few books amuse their leisure half-hours: if they want to smoke a pipe, they can go outside to the cab-stand...the cost of creating a "Shelter," some £200, is defrayed by generous donations and subscriptions to the "Cabmen's Shelter Fund,"...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.