“The Shambles” reputed by some to be the “best preserved medieval street in Europe” lies within York, a walled city in county North Yorkshire, northwest England. This magical Dickensian street dates back to the 1300s.
A “Shambles” in medieval days indicated an open-air slaughterhouse; and this was a street packed with butchers, as well as the discarded intestines, dung, and blood of their livelihood. Apparently this was so unappealing even amonst the medieval folk the word “shambles” evolved to indicate a great nasty mess. But this narrow little street is quite adorable and charming now, isn’t it? It is.
(image by tjbrandon on flickr)