You’re probably well-aware that Trafalgar Square boasts some pretty impressive landmarks. What you might not know, however, is that it’s also home to one of London’s biggest (and smallest) secrets. A hidden gem that you’ve most likely walked past countless times without even noticing it. It’s time to grab yourselves a cuppa, folks, because I think I feel a little Secret London history lesson coming on.
Nestled inside a hollowed out lamppost in the southeastern corner of Trafalgar Square is what used to be the smallest police station in the country. It’s supposedly large enough to fit two prisoners inside it at once, but was primarily built and used as a rather secretive spot for a single police officer to keep a watchful eye over the political protests that took place in the square. It was essentially the best seat in the house for people watching – and the closest thing to CCTV that London had back in the twenties and thirties.
The history of Britain’s smallest police station
Back in the mid-1920‘s, Trafalgar Square had become a popular protest spot for striking workers and some rather unruly crowds. Regularly becoming quite rowdy, the Metropolitan Police needed a way to keep an eye on the goings-on. A temporary police box was placed outside the station in 1926, but plans to make it a permanent fixture were met by great uproar – so it was soon removed.
A more surreptitious spot needed to be secured for the look-out police station, and that’s when the bright idea to hollow out a lamppost came about. In 1927, a light fitting in the corner of Trafalgar Square was hollowed out, a small set of windows and a direct phone line to Scotland Yard were installed. And thus, the smallest police station in Britain was created.
The light on top of the lamppost didn’t go to waste, as a rather nifty procedure was put in place. If a protesting crowd became particularly disorderly, the officer inside the mini station could pick up the phone to call Scotland Yard. The moment the phone was picked up, the light on top of the box would start flashing to alert any nearby officers that there was trouble and back-up was needed.
The hollowed out lamppost is no longer used by the Met Police, it’s instead used as a supply cupboard for Westminster Council cleaners. But it’s still certainly worth a visit if you’re in the area.
📍 You can find this teeny tiny police station at 44 Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DP.