The Shambles has been a town staple in Malton for hundreds of years. Today it is filled with independent businesses, but in the past the street had a different purpose. Howard Campion, a trustee at the Malton and Norton Heritage Centre, reports.

THE narrow street of low buildings known as 'The Shambles' joins the Cattle Market to the Market Place.

The word 'Shambles' used to refer to a place where animals were slaughtered, so its closeness to the Cattle Market is somewhat appropriate.

Looking at similarities in architecture, it can easily be imagined that the buildings across the other side of the road were once a part of the same development.

Gazette & Herald: Illustration from 1980 map, shambles indicated in redIllustration from 1980 map, shambles indicated in red (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

Gazette & Herald: Bus station buildings to left of churchBus station buildings to left of church (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

However, the purposes of these two separate sections could hardly be much different: one is now retail and the other is public conveniences, at one time serving as a waiting/queuing area for Malton's 'West Yorkshire Road Car Company' bus station.

The buses occupied the adjacent raised area now given over to parking and this situation continued until a purpose built bus depot was constructed opposite the railway station In 1948.


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At the same time, Russell's brewery built a new chimney across the river using identical bricks, and the photo shows the new bus station with the new chimney behind it (marked in red). There is a photo of employees at their new venue.

Looking at an 1850 map of the immediate Market Place area, it can be seen that 'The Shambles' was then marked as being an area around St Michael's church.

Gazette & Herald: 1850 map 1850 map (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

There is an illustration of the church taken from a 1980 Malton map with present day Shambles and raised area indicated in red.

A very old photo shows the church to have a clock, its former place in the stonework still discernible, the clock's face being allegedly still somewhere in the town.

By magnifying the old church photo, it is just possible to see the old bus station buildings, seemingly empty.

Gazette & Herald: Staff at new bus stationStaff at new bus station (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)

There are questions regarding the existence of a burial ground near the church, but the problem of its whereabouts is unresolved.

The historian Nigel Hudleston has said that 'bones were found nearby' and there could be remains 'in the new marketplace'.

Gazette & Herald: New bus station with brewery chimney behind (indicated in red)New bus station with brewery chimney behind (indicated in red) (Image: Malton and Norton Heritage Centre)