What do we call the street where medieval shops were often found?

The story behind the answer

In medieval towns, everyday commerce clustered around the licensed market. The street that bordered the market square was lined with booths, stalls, and permanent shopfronts to catch the heaviest foot traffic, so its very function gave it its name. Civic authorities focused policing, weighing, and toll collection there, making it the most regulated—and lucrative—retail artery.

Markets were privileges granted by royal or seignorial charters, fixing market days and drawing buyers from miles around. Surrounding lanes often specialized—think “Shambles” for butchers or “Fish Street” for fishmongers—while in London “Cheapside” comes from Old English céap, meaning trade. But the principal thoroughfare serving the market remained the heart of urban shopping in the Middle Ages.