The Shambles in York

This street is one of the best preserved medieval streets in Europe. The buildings on opposite sides of the path hang over far enough that two people on upper floors could reach out and hold hands. Shambles comes from the word shammel which means animal flesh. There are ledges on the lower windows where butchers would display their meat. They would slaughter animals in the back of the building so there would always be a fresh supply of meat. Some of these shops and houses date back to 1350.