The Shambles No other street in the city evokes the feeling of medieval life more vividly than the Shambles with the upper storeys of its fifteenth century houses leaning above us, the roofs on either side almost almost touching each other across the street. This is the ancient street of the butchers of York. It takes its name from 'Shamel', meaning the stalls or benches on which the meat was displayed, examples of which can still be seen.		Also notice the raised pavements on either side of the main cobbled street, this forms a channel through which the butchers would wash away their waste, offal and blood twice a week. About half way up The Shambles is the famous house of St Margaret Clitheroe. The Shambles is now a busy shopping street and contains many specialist shops of particular interest to visitors.