[2] The street is named for William Hawkins (c. 1618–1680) who had been the driving force behind the reclamation, funding 450 metres of walling himself.

In 1962, this was demolished to make way for a large office block development, Hawkins House and the Screen Cinema.

[9] The rear entrance of the Dublin Gas Company building built in 1928 is also on the western side of the street.

The memorial was designed by W. P. O'Neill, built by Harrison & Sons,[13] and was moved to the side of the street in 2012.

[14] Its inscription reads, in English and Irish:[15][16] This memorial was erected in memory of Patrick Sheahan a constable in the Dublin Metropolitan Police Force who lost his life in the 6th day of March 1905 in a noble and self-sacrificing effort to rescue John Fleming who had in the discharge of his duties descended the main sewer close by this spot and was overcome by sewer gas.