The Shambles
Looking south towards the intersection of Shambles and Little Shambles, 2018 | |
Location within York | |
| Former names |
|
|---|---|
| Length | 400 ft (120 m) |
| Location | York, England |
| Coordinates | 53°57′33.85″N 1°4′48.40″W / 53.9594028°N 1.0801111°W |
| North end | Newgate, York |
| South end | Pavement, York |
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.