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Sunday 10 April 2022

York's Shambles

The Shambles, in York, is possibly one of the most famous streets in England and certainly one of the most visited, always thronged with tourists. It is undoubtedly picturesque. The street itself is over 900 years old and some of its timber-framed buildings, with their jettied top storeys almost touching across the street, date back to the 1400s, when it housed butchers' shops. ('Shambles' were slaughterhouses and meat markets). It would have had a gulley down the centre, into which blood and offal would flow, there being no hygiene laws in those days. The stench must have been pretty unpleasant! 

At one time much of the centre of York would have looked like this, with narrow winding streets and 'snickelways' (little alleys) leading off them. This is really the last survivor and now houses a variety of tourist shops, bars and cafés. 

It's heartening to see, right across our towns and cities, flags flying and fundraising going on to show solidarity with and support the people of Ukraine, their beautiful country devastated by invasion and bombardment, with so many millions of their citizens displaced - a terrible and pointless act. 


5 comments:

  1. Lovely little street. I think I'd stop at Roly's Fudge Pantry definitely.

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  2. So charming--no wonder the tourists flock there!

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  3. I had the best scone ever in a little cafe along there.

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