The Shambles

The Shambles, also known as Market Arcade, is a 18th-century building located on Fore Street. It features a rebuilt first floor that extends over the pavement, supported by granite piers, five of which date back to 1586 from a former market on the site. The current arcade consists of seven bays, with three additional granite piers. The rear wall is made of narrow coursed stonework and stands a few feet away from St Edmund's Church. The building has a slate roof with end gables and a flat pitch. The upper storey contains five 2-light flush frame sash windows with mostly intact glazing bars, and the interior is plaster lined and painted. Behind the arcade, there are narrow shops, and a staircase at the south end leads to offices on the first floor. The Shambles, along with Nos 42 to 84 (even) and No 92, forms a group.