The plots 28-32 Coppergate were occupied, according to surviving poll tax lists, by John and Isolde Acaster during the mid to late 14th century
before the construction of the current building. The original timber-frame building was constructed in the 15th century and, unusually, consisted
of two conjoined ranges running parallel to Coppergate and was an early example of a double timber pile structure. William Alne, a wealthy
former mayor of York and resident of Coppergate from c.1410, was noted to have constructed an unusual house opposite All Saints Church
for which he had to negotiate drainage arrangements with his neighbours as the house was situated parallel to the street.
The absence of eaves necessitated guttering on the front portion of the boundary. Though the exact location of Alne’s building is unknown,
it is likely that his ‘unusual’ structure was at 28 to 32 Coppergate (ed. Addyman, 2002). Today, Duttons for Buttons, fronting onto Coppergate,
holds a prominent position on one of the busiest thoroughfares for pedestrian and vehicular traffic in York as well as being richly historically
significant.