Feb 20
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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, a name reflecting its historical use as a butchers' street.
The word shambles derives from Old English sċeamol (“bench, stall”), referring to market or butcher’s stalls.
The association with meat is historical rather than etymological. In 1885, thirty-one butchers' shops were located along the street but none remain today.
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