Continuing my series on Cab Drivers’ Shelters, here is the shelter on Russell Square. It was built in 1897, restored in 1987, and listed in 1988.
This little building is on the North side of Russell Square, not far from the British Museum.
I sketched from a convenient bench, fortified by a sandwich and cake from the marvellous Fortitude Bakery, just to the east – marked on the map above (and recommended).
On the other side of the road is a school for young children. Adults stood about, ready to collect the school children. Between them flowed a current of workers, students and people of all nations. “SOAS”, the School of Oriental and African Studies, is nearby, as is the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and many other academic institutions of the University of London.
A cheerful woman swathed in scarves bustled up to me and examined the picture. She glanced up to to the shelter and looked back down again at my picture, comparing. She then delivered what I took to be a speech of encouragement and admiration. But it may equally have been closely argued constructive criticism. Her words sounded garbled, she had no teeth, and I think she was speaking a language unknown to me. However we smiled at each other, I held up the picture so she could better compare it to the building. She nodded curtly, as though putting a confirmatory flourish at the end of her expressed opinion. We smiled again, she waved, and off she went.
A woman with a large handbag came and sat down right next to me on the bench. She placed the handbag on her lap, and took no interest in my picture whatsoever. After a few minutes she took off again. Perhaps she had spotted the pupil she had come to collect.
I photographed various details of the shelter. Note the bird on top of the bell. I had tried very hard to show it in my drawing, but at that distance it was very small.
The shelters were built by The Cabmen’s Shelter Fund. Its monogram “CSF” is in the fretwork. This charity set up the shelters in the 19th century, and still exists.
I finished the drawing back at my desk. Here is the sketchbook spread.
Jane Sketching 
I really enjoyed this one. Almost every time I’ve been in London I’ve stayed at a place on Upper Woburn so this is very familiar territory for me. And I was once offered a teaching position at SOAS, but turned it down: there are so many familiar places on your map.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It’s a great area of London. I used to work near here. This was at a time when one could find peaceful sanctuary in the vast galleries of the British Museum, and commune in silence with the objects from ancient civilisations, putting current troubles in perspective. I still enjoy the Museum, and strolling the streets and the squares here.
See also https://janesketching.com/2020/03/08/senate-house-unfinished-courtyard/, done in this area – from next to SOAS.
Many thanks for your comment!
LikeLike
Yes, I visit the British Museum almost every time I’m in London, for at least a little while, and if the crowds are too large and noisy I head across the street to the relative peace of the Museum Tavern.
LikeLiked by 1 person