Items associated with Viking Jorvik have also been found, but at this time, the area appears to have been a large open space.

By the 14th-century, the street was known for its lorimers (makers and sellers of metalwork for bridles and other horse furniture) and spurriers.

[2] Low Ousegate runs north-east from Ouse Bridge, to its junction with Spurriergate and Nessgate.

All the buildings from 4 to 14 Low Ousegate date from the rebuilding in the 1810s, and their design may have been loosely based on drawings by Peter Atkinson.

Notable buildings on the north-west side include 5 High Ousegate, built in 1743, and 11 to 15, all dating from the early-18th century rebuilding.