The area remained almost wholly agricultural until the late 18th-century, with Nun Windmill being built at what is now the street's junction with Southlands Road.

[1] The Knavesmire common land lay along the west side of the middle section of the street, although there was some enclosure immediately alongside the road.

[7] In 2020, the northern section of the street was made one-way, but this was ended following concerns that it had moved traffic to less suitable roads nearby.

South of its junction with Scarcroft Road, it is unclassified, and the next section is mostly residential, with access to Rowntree Park up streets on its eastern side.

Further south again, beyond The Chocolate Works, it is less built up, running parallel to the western bank of the River Ouse and passing through Middlethorpe, until it ends in the village of Bishopthorpe.