Coppergate served as a glass-making district outside Roman York's walls. Archaeologists found evidence that workers crafted vessels and decorative items from molten silica within these boundaries. The industry flourished until the end of Roman rule in Britain.
The street was first recorded as a centre for coopers between 1120 and 1135. These craftsmen made wooden barrels used for storing goods like ale or fish. Their trade gave the street its enduring name.
Major Viking remains were found immediately south of Coppergate in 1976. A cinema and the Cravens confectionery factory were demolished to make way for excavation. Workers uncovered thousands of wooden objects preserved in waterlogged soil.
The Coppergate Shopping Centre opened in 1984 over the area where Viking remains had been discovered. Construction required careful planning to protect the underlying archaeology while bringing new economic activity to the city centre. Its success demonstrated that commerce and history could coexist under one roof.
Two structures with 15th-century origins exist at 26 Coppergate and 28, 32 Coppergate. The 16th-century Three Tuns pub and Galtres Chambers are also listed buildings on the south side. These buildings offer visual continuity between past and present despite the replacement of most Mediaeval buildings.