In the 15th century, it housed the “Escu de Voirre” sign, the workshop of the Barbe family of glass painters, whose most important member was Guillaume, master glassmaker of the cathedral.

It bore the names of "rue des Féronniers", "rue de la Féronnière", "rue de la Féronnière", "rue aux Férons", "rue de l'Archevêché" then "rue du Citoyen" during the Revolution before take its current name at the beginning of the 19th century.

Its picturesque character has made it a favorite subject for painters and engravers. She was notably represented by Thomas Colman Dibdin, Camille Pissarro, Eugène Boudin and Charles Pinet.