York Overview
By Rachel Newcombe
The city of York, in the North of England, is home to one of the UK’s oldest streets. Known as Shambles, or The Shambles, it dates back over 900 years – it was mentioned in the Domesday Book – and is a prime example of one of the best preserved Medieval streets in Europe.
The key characteristic of the Shambles is the narrow, cobbled and windy street, lined on both sides by buildings. Dating from the fifteenth century, the quaint buildings lean over into the tiny street, so that their roofs almost touch in the middle. Historically, Shambles was a row of butchers shops and houses and in 1872 there were a massive 26 butchers on the street. The pavements in the area are noticeably raised up and it’s believed to be because the butchers used to slaughter livestock there and wash away the waste down the middle of the street.
One famous butchers wife was Margaret Clitherow, who became a Catholic in 1574 and used offered her house to sheltering priests and schoolchildren. She was persecuted because of her actions and eventually crushed to death on the Ouse Bridge. There’s now a shrine to her halfway along the street, marking her work.
If you’re fascinated by history and old buildings, and are keen to get a feel of what the city was like in previous generations, then a visit to The Shambles is a must. Today it’s filled with lots of shops, restaurants and businesses and, as the tiny area is so unusual, it’s become one of the most popular streets in Europe. Go!
