As York's oldest street, Shambles is mentioned in the Domesday Book, making it over 900 years old. The name Shambles comes from an old medieval word Shamel, meaning booth or bench. It has also been known as Flesshammel, meaning "around flesh". The street was once home to many butcher's shops and homes. Meat was slaughtered on the street and while butchers were in operation they served over the shop window bottoms (the Shamel). The street was designed so that the pavements slope into the road. This was a deliberate attempt to create a channel for animal's blood to run down.