The Shambles

The Shambles is a historic street in York, England, featuring preserved medieval buildings, some dating back as far as the 14th century. The street is narrow, with many timber-framed buildings with jettied floors that overhang the street by several feet. It was once known as The Great Flesh Shambles, probably from the Anglo-Saxon Fleshammels, the word for the shelves that butchers used to display their meat. Today, the beautiful old buildings have been restored and now house cheerful cafés, quirky boutiques, and even a coin & stamp dealer, as well as chocolate, fudge, and sweet shops, clothes and accessories, and gift shops. The street's colourful history includes being the site of a former resident, Margaret Clitherow, who became a Catholic Saint after being tortured and executed for harbouring a Catholic Priest during the time of Reformation