Page 56 - 2010 - AOUT
P. 56
e at home from my visit, I sat down at my trusty
laptop to learn more about The Shambles. My first
step, of course, an internet search for ‘The Shambles of
York”. The resulting multitude of finds, led me on a
journey through time spanning over 900 years into the
history of York’s oldest street. The Domesday Book,
completed in 1086, has reference to The Shambles. It is
now thought that the buildings there are of a later date,
most probably around the 14th Century.
So how does such a charming street come to have the
amusing name of The Shambles? If we could re‐wind
the world to Anglo‐Saxon times we would hear this
street being referred to as fleshshammels, which
literally translates as flesh shelves! The most
picturesque street in Britain was once home to over 27
butchers shops and homes, with shammels in reference
to the shelves and hanging rails outside the shops
where the butchers would display their wares.
laptop to learn more about The Shambles. My first
step, of course, an internet search for ‘The Shambles of
York”. The resulting multitude of finds, led me on a
journey through time spanning over 900 years into the
history of York’s oldest street. The Domesday Book,
completed in 1086, has reference to The Shambles. It is
now thought that the buildings there are of a later date,
most probably around the 14th Century.
So how does such a charming street come to have the
amusing name of The Shambles? If we could re‐wind
the world to Anglo‐Saxon times we would hear this
street being referred to as fleshshammels, which
literally translates as flesh shelves! The most
picturesque street in Britain was once home to over 27
butchers shops and homes, with shammels in reference
to the shelves and hanging rails outside the shops
where the butchers would display their wares.
