The street has the main route leading south and west from York from the Roman Eboracum era onwards; the Roman roads to Calcaria and Isurium ran parallel to the modern road, to the rear of the buildings on its north-western side. While the area was initially agricultural, it was later used as a rubbish dump, and then as a cemetery. Remains of several tombs have been found. By the 5th-century, it appears to have been used as agricultural land once more.