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The Shambles, Overhanging Building

The Shambles, Overhanging Building

This section of York dates back to the 14th century and was the place butchers set up shop. It was once called the “Great Flesh Shambles” because of the shelves of meat the butchers would display.
The main street through the Shambles has a slight declining curve, which was conducive to dumping the blood from butchered animals along with raw human sewage. The area would smell horrific for days until the rains came and washed the waste away.
Many are confused as to why the width of the street is so small. The reasoning is simple, and a bit morbid. The purpose of the street was to let carts travel to and fro to collect and deliver meat among the butchers. The carts were also used to remove the dead humans who perished rapidly during times of plague.


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