Shambles, York

After seeing lots of old buildings in York, Shambles didn't impress me much, sadly
this time (2003).

The last time I visited Shambles(1999), I remember enjoying shopping antiques.

This time, we bought a nice wool scarf at Edinburgh Woolen Mill (in York!?).

It the weather had been better, my impression would have been a bit different? Who knows. But visit there and see what you will think.

The Shambles is one of the best preserved medieval streets in Europe which was once full of butchers' shops. No other street in this city gives the feeling of medieval life more vividly than the Shambles.

The upper storeys of its fifteenth century houses lean out overhead with the roofs almost touching each other across the street. The Shambles is now a busy shopping street and contains many specialist shops.

A narrow street in Old York that gives us a glimpse of old-timey shopping. If you're a tourist in York, you'll end up here sooner or later. I don't remember buying anything from the shops in the Shambles. The ghost tours pass through this area at night...I followed behind one for a bit...but all they do is tell ghost stories. The Shambles is supposed to be one of the best preserved medieval streets in Europe. I read that the street was mentioned in the Domesday Book which makes the Shambles at least 900 years old.

The Shambles is the ancient Butchers street, mentioned in the Doomsday Book of William the Conqueror. Originating from the word "Shamel", meaning stalls or benches to display the meat - later versions of which can still be seen.

Rebuilt in 1400's when it assumed its present appearance - the timber clad buildings leaning towards, almost touching one another. Its a popular street full of speciality shop.

The Shambles is one of the best examples of a medieval street in the UK. It used to be filled with butchers with their wares on display in the windows. Some of the timber buildings date as far back as 1350.

This old style shopping street with lots of small, unusual shops. One of my favourite areas of the city.

Have a leisure walk around the shambles. Lotsa shops and tea room there.
Along this street, there's a small bakery shop selling bread and many different types of loafs. You wun miss it cos there will be a queue... As you look up to the second or third floor above the shop, you will be able to see a chef working hard...

Well, I'm not really sure that this pic is the Shambles but it does show the narrow lane which is typical of the medieval era.
The name "Shambles" comes from the Saxon "Fleshammels", which means, "the street of the butchers" as this is where the butchers set up shop.
Take the time to wander through these twisting lanes and try to get a feel of what it must have been like back in medieval times. At least the butcher's meat isn't still sitting out in these lanes ;-)

From medieval times up to the early decades of the 20th century The Shambles was York's meat and butchering center. The benches (called 'shammels') and hooks used to display meat are still present.
   Notice the two houses in the background of the picture. The street is so narrow that two people could reach out from the windows and shake each others hands. Imagine how crowded it can be here during the high tourist season.