Emergency crews were called to the 20-metre-wide (66ft) hole in Magdalen's Road, Ripon, on Tuesday night, fire and rescue service confirmed.
A spokesman said: "Two fire crews and an officer from Ripon attended a sinkhole that had appeared at the rear of two properties. There were no injuries but seven properties were evacuated.
"The hole measured approximately 20 metres by 10 metres, with an unknown depth.
"We are reattending the incident this morning with several other agencies who attended during the night."
One Twitter user posted a picture of the sinkhole:
Andrew Jackson (@MeetMrJackson)The Ripon area is prone to sinkholes and this incident is close to where another opened up beneath a building in Magdalen's Close in 2014, leaving the 100-year-old property in a precarious state.
Huge sinkhole opens up on #Ripon street https://t.co/KipyqjB2dK Pic by @JoanitaMusisi pic.twitter.com/XiPwHv0AnW
November 10, 2016
The Northern Echo (@TheNorthernEcho)One resident wrote social media to say his garden had disappeared.
Homes evacuated after large sinkhole opens up in Ripon https://t.co/h75QWimz6i pic.twitter.com/BXPYWXpMnY
November 10, 2016
He said: "A 30ft-deep sink hole enveloping the back garden occurred at 10.30. Been told to leave the house for the night."
And he added: "Yeah, they've evacuated our row. Swallowed the garden so 'twill be interesting in light."
Source: Press Association
Had it's bearings wrong. It should have opened in Her Majesty's courtyard.