Were based in the iconic Shambles Market Hall, Worcester. Here’s a little history about the street and building were in.
On a Saturday night in the Shambles after 9 o’clock, the scene was reminiscent of a medieval fair. Butchers were engaged in lively auctions of unsold meat as crowds of poor folk eagerly waited for a chance to snag a cheap deal before the shops closed after 10 p.m.
With a lack of refrigeration until around 1930, butchers had to sell off their meat cheaply to prevent spoilage over the weekend. The Shambles was bustling day and night, with greengrocers competing with each other through their enthusiastic ‘barkers’ proclaiming the freshness of their produce.
The vivid sights and smells of the bustling street included Taylor’s grocer shop, known for its ripe cheeses that emitted a strong aroma.
The atmosphere was filled with the shouts of greengrocers touting their goods while the refuse on the pavement added to the lively chaos.
Millis’s Fish and Chip shop in the centre served up affordable meals like fish and chips and scratchings, reflecting the past value of money compared to today.
Pratley’s China Shop, a long-standing establishment in the Shambles, had a remarkable history, surviving fires and becoming a destination for those seeking fine china at competitive prices.
The variety of cooked meats and offal on display in the butcher shops were a reminder of the poverty of the time, with dishes like pressed beef, chitterlings, and faggots being popular choices.
The pride of the showcases were the legs of roasted pork with crispy crackling, a hearty meal that was both affordable and delicious.
The Shambles may have been filled with butchers, but it was the array of cooked meats and offal that lingered in the memories of those who frequented the street before 1939.