The New Town of Edinburgh

When the New Town was planned at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th politics determined the street naming. There was a lot of leaning over backwards to complement the union between Scotland and England, and then the Hanoverian monarchy. So the main street was called George Street - with Queen Street on one side and Princes Street on the other. Hanover Street and Frederick Street joined those three together. In between were Rose Street and Thistle Street. The magnificent squares at either end were St Andrews Square and St George's Square - although the latter was renamed Charlotte after the Queen.

Princes Street was to be named St Giles street - but this was rejected by the King (George III) because St Giles was the patron saint of lepers and also the name of a slum area or 'rookery' on the edge of the City of London.