What are London green huts used for? The cabbie hut history

At first glance, many look like no different to your fellow attractions or common city, features, but a more in-depth look will reveal all the secrets that lie within them. 

From Trafalgar Square’s secret tiny police box, the forgotten London Underground stations and even the skinny house in South Kensington.

But there is another secret to London that stands in the middle of many roads that thousands walk past every day but never give a second look.

The humble and unsuspecting ‘green huts’ on some London streets have a lot more to offer than at first glance.

While many may not know what the green huts of London are used for, they are a lot more practical than you may think.

The huts were built for shelter to cabbies. (Image: PAUL FARMER)

What are London’s green huts used for?

Although called green huts by their painted colour, the huts are actually titled Cabmen’s shelters.

As their title may suggest, they were created to give shelter to cabbies in the Victorian era of London with records showing that at least 13 are still in use across the capital to this day.

In the late 1800s cabbies didn’t have the luck of shelter in their vehicle, instead, horse-drawn carriages were used with cabbies sitting on a seat above open to all weather types.

According to Living London History, they suggest that the green huts were created so that during bad weather, cabbies could stay safe and take shelter.

Created by editor of the Globe Newspaper, George Armstrong, he came up with the idea of cabmen shelters after noticing they were all hidden in a pub to keep out of the weather.

George Armstrong came up with the idea. (Image: Mike Quinn)

Using MP’s and philanthropists’ help, Armstrong founded the Cabemen’s Shelter Fund in 1875 to help build the huts across London.

Although the huts were built for weather protection, they also served hot food and drink to all and are said to fit between 10-13 seated drivers.

However, there were some rules the cabbies had to stick to, of course, there was no alcohol on site as well as no card-playing or gambling.

The green cabmen shelters were saving graces for many cabbies during their peak, however during the wars many were lost to bombings.

More traffic on the road as well as vandalism and making street widers also saw many green huts come to the end of their use, with reports that only 13 stand today.

But, the remaining huts are still managed by the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund with many now becoming Grade II listed by Historic England in a bid to protect them.