The Shambles

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

The western end of Newgate Street and the neighbourh6od south to Newgate Market called "the Shambles " in early times and by Stow (S. 315).


The place where the butchers sell their flesh "is described as " in vico regio versus Newgate" in 3 Ed. I. (Rot. Hund. I. 404).

The highway in the shambles, "altum vicum in macellis," 17 Rich. II. (Cal. P.R. Rich. II. 1391-6, p.362).

In 1355 the butchers purchased a place " for the purposes of their trade " between the Wall of the Preaching Friars and the tenement of Wm. Hercy, 29 Ed. III. 1355 (Cal. L. Bk. G. p. 43).

Street called " le Fleshambles," 1530 (L. and P. H. VIII. IV. (3), p.2944). "lez Flesshe Shamells," 1543 (L. and P. H. VIII. XVIII. (1), 197).

"St. Nicholas Flesh Shambles" in "Plat of the Greyfriars," 1546 and 1617 in Trans L. and M. Arch. Soc. V.421, east of Ivy Lane.

A tradesman's token was issued 1649 for the "Swann behind the Shambles" (Burn p.138).

It was also sometimes called " la Bocherie " and "Street of the Butchers " (q.v.).

The Stocks Market is referred to as the Shambles in 1598 (see Ship Tavern, Thread needle Street).

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