[2] In the 1980s it was thought that the original stones of the arch lie within the fillings at a depth of about 8 meters below the contemporary paved level,[2] but this was proven to be wrong.

[1] In the description of the survey he made at the site, Charles Wilson wrote about "[t]he arch, which Sir Henry James has called after my name".

[7] Charles Warren, Wilson's contemporary and fellow archaeologist, called the remains of the bridge the "Great Causeway", and the underground corridor along its southern side the "Secret Passage".

[1] The 2020 study concluded that Wilson's Arch was initiated by Herod the Great, and enlarged during the Roman Procurators, such as Pontius Pilate, in a range of 70 years.

[1] Not directly relevant to the dating process of the Arch are the pools built beneath it, the oldest of which was carbon-dated to 1305–1340 CE during the Mamluk period.

[1] Before 2020, there were scholars who favored dating the Arch's construction to the Umayyad period (661–750), basing their conclusions on what they saw as evidence from the period of excavation after the Six-Day War, when Israel's Ministry of Religious Affairs began to excavate the still unexposed areas of the Western Wall, and dug a tunnel beneath the existing structures above.

[12] Not long after Wilson, Charles Warren excavated under the arch by digging two trial shafts, one along the western pier all the way down to bedrock.

[13][10] Over the prayer hall area partially covered by the Arch is the large building known as the Makhkama or Tankiziyya, that includes a porch looking over the Temple Mount.

[citation needed] Former Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren used to use that porch to recite special "Kinot" prayers on the night of Tisha B'Av.

[17] Israeli workers renovated and restored the area for three years, strengthening the arch in preparation for access for visitors and use for prayer.

[20] This addition creates a woman's section to allow separate seating during worship services and special events conducted within the Wilson's Arch prayer area, including Bar Mitzvah ceremonies, and advertisements for special programs such as the middle-of-the-night prayers climaxing the six-week "Shovavim" period have made a point of reminding women that this new area exists.

[21][22] According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, this construction allowed women for the first time to "take part in the services held inside under the Arch.

[25] According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, requests have been made for many years that "an olive oil lamp be placed in the prayer hall of the Western Wall Plaza, as is the custom in Jewish synagogues, to represent the menorah of the Temple in Jerusalem as well as the continuously burning fire on the altar of burnt offerings in front of the Temple, especially in the closest place to where they used to stand.

Attended by both men and women who were allowed to sit together, it was conducted under the supervision of the Israel Ministry of Religious Affairs, and led by U.S. Navy Chaplain (Rabbi) Arnold Resnicoff.

Ministry of Affairs representative Yonatan Yuval was present, responding to press queries that this service was authorized as part of a special welcome for the U.S. Sixth Fleet.

[26][27][28] Since the restoration, a growing number of worship events have been scheduled in the area, to take advantage of the cover and temperature control, especially for services at night that are traditionally recited at the Wall.

[29] The area has also been utilized during times when security concerns make it difficult to allow the use of the outdoor prayer plaza, such as the March 19, 2009 visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the Wall and Temple Mount.

[31] Rabbi Rabinowitz, protesting the decision, was quoted as saying that "It's inconceivable that the pope's visit would hurt worshippers at the Western Wall, some of whom have been praying there daily.