Shambles Market facts for kids
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The Shambles Market is a busy daily market located right in the middle of York, England. It's a fun place where you can find all sorts of things, from fresh food to unique gifts.
How the Market Started
Before 1955, York had its main markets in two other places: Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square. But things changed that year. The market in St Sampson's Square closed down, and the one in Parliament Street only opened on Saturdays.
The people who ran the market stalls needed a new place to sell their goods. So, they were given space in a new area. This spot was between streets called Newgate, Jubbergate, and The Shambles. New, permanent stalls were built for selling fresh meat and fish. Other items were sold from temporary stalls that could be set up and taken down.
The Market's First Name
When the market first opened in its new spot, there was an idea to call it "Gell Garth." This name was inspired by "Gail Garth," which was the old Mediaeval (or Middle Ages) name for that area. However, they decided on a different name in the end. The market was officially named Newgate Market, after the nearby street called Newgate.
A New Look and Name
In 2014, the market got a big makeover! It cost about £1.6 million to make it look new and modern. With this update, it also got a new name: Shambles Market. This name was chosen because it's close to The Shambles, one of York's most famous and historic streets.
The updated market had 86 stalls, which was a few more than before. It also added seven kiosks, and most of these sold delicious food. At the time, the City of York Council (the local government) said that the Saturday market was very popular and often full. But there were usually empty stalls on other days of the week. Sometimes, a special tent called a marquee can be set up in a part of the market for events like farmers' markets.
What You Can Find There
The Shambles Market is home to many different businesses. One example is Cross of York, a stall that opened way back in 1957. This stall is very good at what it does! In 2020, it even won a national competition for being the best Fishmonger (someone who sells fish) of the year.
