The site had defences and some stone buildings, remains of which have been excavated in the churchyard of the former St Mary Bishophill Senior.

[2] Following the Roman withdrawal, the history of the area is obscure until the construction of St Mary Bishophill Junior in the 10th century, a large stone building for the period.

However, after Clifford's Tower on the other bank of the River Ouse was rebuilt in stone, the castle was allowed to decay, some of its defences being incorporated into the city walls.

This changed in 1756, when the City Corporation began designating building plots, the first at the north side of Bishophill Junior.

[2] A gaol was built in the 1800s on what is now Cromwell Road; the Skeldergate Postern in the city wall was demolished to provide better access, but the public outcry led to the start of preservation efforts, and instead of further demolition, a new archway was constructed.

[2] The large Emperor's Wharf was devoted to the transshipment of timber but, by the end of the century, seagoing ships docked further downstream.

[2] In the twentieth century, slum clearance took place in the area, many smaller properties being replaced by low-rise flats and maisonettes.

[7] Plans to erect a multi-storey car park in the centre of the district were opposed by a newly-formed residents' association and were subsequently abandoned.