You’re stood at the Southern end of Worcester’s very own Shambles. The street today called The Shamble was probably formed some time between the 11th and 13th centuries.

In the medieval period it was referred to as Baxter Street – a reference to the main trade (bakers) that worked along its passage. On John Speed’s 1610 map of the city (the earliest known map of Worcester’s street plan) it seems to be referred to as Baker Street (though this is not clearly marked).

The word ‘shambles’ is derived from the old English word ‘Scalum’ meaning little bench. This may well refer to the benches of butchers working from trestle tables set up outside their premises. Either way the word has been synonymous with the trade of butchers for centuries – which is perhaps why a scene of bloodshed and carnage today may be referred to as a ‘shambles.’

Butchery doesn’t seem to have become the main trade along the street until well in to the 17th century and according to local historian Terry Wardle the name ‘The Shambles’ doesn’t appear on a city map until 1741.

Records reflect the continual practice of butchery along the street for centuries to come. As Wardle reflects: ‘By 1790 a directory showed there were 17 butchers in the street…[and] in 1840 there were still 17 butchers, but also a wide variety of other businesses, including a wood turner, an eating house, shoemakers, a hair dresser, provision dealers, a tripe dresser, a chain manufacturer, a trunk maker and a cheeses factory.’

So it would seem that from the 19th century on that the trades listed in the street began to vary so that by the beginning of the 20th century the modern divergence of retail trades that we today are familiar with took root there – albeit still dominated by the din of the butchers.

In 1804 the King’s Head Inn whose yard backed on to the Shambles was pulled down to make way for a new market hall which connected to the High Street (the one you’re stood at). In 1849 to this was added the handsome clock still in situ on the High Street end, which was presented by the Mayor Richard Padmore (a plaque on the modern arcade where the market once stood still records this). This market was renovated in in 1850 and eventually was torn down and converted to become a shopping arcade which was revamped at the beginning of the 21st century.

In 1843 another Market Hall (now know as the Old Market Hall) opened on the Shambles, connecting it with New Street. This building still survives and remains a market place today.

Local historian Bill Gwilliam records the history of The Shambles as a lively centre for trade in the early 20th century. He describes a chaotic scene where butchers would sell off cheap meat after 9pm on a Friday night, alongside the presence of green-grocers all shouting over one another to gain the attentions of shoppers. He also makes mention of the famed ‘Pratley’s China Shop’ that so many of today’s Worcester residents will remember fondly.

Pratley’s China Shop traded in the Shambles from the same premises since 1880 and only closed its doors 132 years later. During its long tenure it maintained close links with Royal Worcester Porcelain and even survived two fires in its history that destroyed the premises. Today the site is occupied by The Entertainer toy store.

Another sad loss for the Shambles was its last timber-framed building which stood on the corner of Church Street next to St Swithun’s. Built c.1600, this characterful feature was pulled down in the 1960s and replaced with…Argos.

This location fact has been provided by Joe Tierney of Faithful History. To learn more stories of the ancient city of Worcester, spanning thousands of years of history in ‘The Faithful City’, visit https://www.facebook.com/faithfulhistoryworcester