Shambles

Tourists from all over the world come to visit Shambles, one of the best preserved medieval streets in Europe.

The street was home to the butchers of York and takes its curious name from the shammels', the shelves which butchers used to display their meat.

You can still see these heavy shelves in front of some of the shop windows and the hooks where the meat was hung.

Today you are more likely to find craft shops, gift shops, restaurants, clothing and sweet shops.

In high season the street is full of people who came just to stop and look at the fine examples of medieval architecture.

Some of the buildings date back to 1350 and the timber-framed buildings lean towards each other across the street.

At one point it is just about possible to lean out of one upstairs window and shake hands with your neighbour across the street.

One of the most famous people who lived in the street was Margaret Clitherow, wife of a butcher and daughter of a former Lord Mayor.

She was accused of treason for harbouring Catholic priests during the Elizabethan era when Protestant England was on the verge of war with Catholic Europe.

She was arrested, questioned and crushed to death under a huge weight of stones when she refused to answer the inquisitors' questions.

The official Shambles website Whilst the Shambles has for many years been known as the street of the butchers and mentioned in the Domesday book, we know Shambles to be one of Europe's best preserved Medieval streets bustelling with modern day viberance. Ofter nowadays called 'Diagon Ally' due to its overhanging medieval buildings, cobbled street and curious shops, we are proud to present this website which brings together the history, shops eateries and community of York's most famous street. Email:info@yorkshambles.com

www.yorkshambles.com