[3] The River Poddle flowed along the side of the street, around the city walls and into the Dubh Linn (Black Pool) which gave Dublin its name.

[10] By the 19th century, the street had become mainly occupied by tenements and commercial traders owing to its proximity to Dublin Castle and the associated barracks.

[13][14] The Italian community was divided into two groups: one primarily from the Lucca region who were "artisans, plaster workers and woodworkers", and the second from Valle di Comino who were "street-sellers of ice cream or cafe owners".

In 2012, an emergency archaeological dig following a large depression in the stone setts on the street discovered the location of the original River Poddle culvert dating to the later 17th century, sometime after 1678.

[18] The Chief State Solicitor's Office coming under the auspices of the Attorney General of Ireland is also located on the street.