It was once a street of butchers and was known as The Great Flesh Shambles (from the Anglo-Saxon Fleshammels - flesh shelves) referring to the shelves that butchers used to display their meat. Some of the shops still have meat hooks hanging outside and shelves.
The Shambles beat the Royal Crescent in Bath and Grey Street in Newcastle, which came second and third in the poll asking people to vote for the most picturesque street.
As much as I like it, I don’t think I have been there more than a handful of times in all my years in York as I find it a bit too narrow and even daunting. Stonegate, also shortlisted, would have had my preference, being a Roman-Viking street lined with fantastic buildings from different ages and leading to the beautiful York Minster.
(A Google Street View of The Shambles)Also, looking at the Google street view (above), they must've shot that at some ludicrously early hour of the day because most of us York residents avoid the Shambles due to it being completely mobbed end to end by tourists.
11 comments:
I've been to York many times and love the minster. I do like the Shambles but, as you say, usually it is so crowded that you simply can't enjoy it while you are there. I much prefer walking the walls or going on a ghost walk anyway!
Visited the Shambles quite a few times, just love it, York is such a beautiful place. I think it is the Shambles, in fact, I am sure it is where there is a memorial to Margaret Clitheroe who was pressed to death for her beliefs.
Thanks for the history lesson ,and the stroll down this street ,I think I saw an item about this on TV , It looks to be a very atmospheric place ..love Jan xx
Picturesque place! I'd love to stroll in those ancient narrow streets. Typi
cally English. Thanks for this beautiful post, A. Happy Easter Time to you and your dear! Ciao!
@Steve: York is such a beautiful town and we are spoilt with fantastic monuments and views that's very difficult to choose the most pictoresque!
@Jeannette: You're right, Jeannette. A house in the Shambles once thought to have been her home, now called the Shrine of the Saint Margaret Clitherow, is open to the public. She was executed (crushed down!!!) for her Catholic belief a little bit further down, near the river Ouse, where there is a commemorative plaque.
@Jan: It's an atmospheric place. That's why it's always overcrowded and that spoils its beauty.
@MG: Thanks for you wishes. Happy Easter to you as well. If you've never been to York, it is a must!
It looks quite historic and interesting - but you probably couldn't tell that if it is swamped with crowds.
Darla
I've been to York a few times and I love the place. It is always nice when your city or adpoted city stand sout from the crowd. Happy Easter.
Hi there, I've never been to England, but I can tell that this area has some kind of classic and national beauty...Thanks for the nice pictures and the insightful information!
@Darla: That's why I keep away from it during the day and I tend to walk through it at night (beautiful in the winter with snow) or early in the morning!
@Jane: Yes, you're right. For me York is a new discovery every day and I never get tired of it!
@Inspired: Hope you will visit England and York sooner or later. Weather aside, it's worth seeing. Ciao. A.
Wow, such a picturesque place! :) Will you show it to me when I will (finally!) come to York? ;) I'd love to stroll in those ancient narrow streets! :D
OOOOH thanks for sharing. John and I often wonder where to go and York is one of the places I have never been to. So that is now on my list!! Lain exxx
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