The name Clifton is derived from the Old English pre-7th century clif, meaning a gentle slope, or more usually a riverbank, and tun, an enclosure or settlement.

Sporadic 2nd century Roman occupation material and fragments of streets indicate that by that time expansion may have begun in Clifton.

This development was not sustained and evidence indicates that from the 3rd century onwards the area beyond St Mary's was given over to cemeteries.

[3] Records show Clifton or Lady Windmill existed from the late-14th to the early-19th centuries in Burton Stone Lane.

On the street named Clifton, the timber-framed Old Manor House was rebuilt after the siege but is now grade II* listed.

The Ward boundary runs from the River Ouse in the west, opposite Acomb Landing, along the back of the Homestead Park and York Sports Club and across the A19 following Water Lane and Lilbourne Drive.

It continues north-east along the Bur Dike to behind Burton Green Primary School before heading south-east and then east across Bootham Stray, the B1363 and the Nestle Factory to the River Foss.

[16] The North Riding Lunatic Asylum joined the National Health Service as Clifton Hospital in 1948 but closed in 1994.

It is of Georgian style and the designers were responsible for the Rialto Cinema, now a bingo hall, in Fishergate.

The Clifton opened on 17 November 1937 with the film “Edge of the World” starring John Laurie, Finlay Currie and Campbell Robson, directed by Michael Powell.

The Clifton survived longer than many of York's cinemas, but closed on 17 October 1964 with the final film being Valley of the Eagle.

[18] Bootham Crescent, the old home of York City F.C., was located in Clifton before it was demolished to make way for a housing estate.

The Brook Street premises were closed in 1909 and pupils transferred to a new school building, on a 5+1⁄2-acre site on Queen Anne's Road, Clifton.

In 1914, additional accommodation for the infants was obtained in the parochial hall in Water Lane and the school itself was used for girls only.

[23] Burdyke County Primary School in Kingsway North, on the Water Lane estate, was opened in September 1954.

[25][26][27] The first Methodist society in Clifton met in a cottage in the 1870s and in April 1884 the Avenue Terrace Chapel was opened.

[28] St Joseph's Catholic Church is located on the roundabout at the northern end of Kingsway North on Burdyke Avenue.