In 1396, a bridge was constructed over Goodramgate, so that the vicars choral based in Bedern could enter the Close without crossing the public street.

[2] In a 1276 survey mentioning both houses and tenants, the street is called clausum cimiterii ecclesie Sancti Petri (St Peter's Close).

When Augustus Duncombe became dean in 1858, he found that there were no open views of the Minster except from the north – specifically from the Deanery garden.

He decided to remedy this by purchasing and demolishing houses between 1859 and 1864 to form Duncombe Place out of the narrow Lop Lane and top of Blake Street.

The area it covered is now represented by College Green, Deangate, Minster Yard, Ogleforth, Precentor's Court, and Dean's Park.