George Street, Edinburgh
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Situated to the north of Princes Street, George Street is a major street in the centre of Edinburgh. Laid out from 1767 as part of James Craig's plan for the New Town, George Street was named in honour of King George III.
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[edit] Geography
George Street lies to the north of central Edinburgh's main thoroughfare Princes Street, and is one of the principal routes through the heart of the city, connecting Charlotte Square at its west end and St Andrews Square to the east. It is bisected by many important thoroughfares, such as Frederick Street, Hanover Street and Castle Street, that run in a north-south orientation between Princes Street to the south and Queen Street at the north of the heart of James Craig's New Town. George Street lies at a slightly higher elevation than Princes Street and Queen Street, to both of which it runs parallel. This is due to the fact that much of the New Town is underlain by uneven glacial deposition.
[edit] Functions
In recent years, George Street has seen a major transformation in its functions. The street functioned as the centre of Edinburgh's financial district housing the premises of banks, insurance brokers and investment companies. However increasing rents and the agglomeration of financial services at places like the large office development at Edinburgh Park on the western periphery of the city and the Exchange District on brownfield land immediately adjacent to the western edge of the city centre, have seen its role as Edinburgh's main financial district much diminished. However, the Standard Life Bank retains office premises on the street, at its junction with St Andrews Square. Nowadays George Street is primarily a commercial zone, with buildings housing many shops, boutiques, cafes and bars along its length at street level. Offices still occupy many of the upper parts of the buildings that line the street.
[edit] Notable Buildings
The street is the site of several notable buildings including the Assembly Rooms (1787), St Andrew's and St George's Church (1784) and others by David Rhind (1808–83) and David Bryce (1803–76) which were previously the headquarters of banks, such as the grand melange of Greek and Roman styles which now houses the Dome bar and night-club (1847). The Northern Lighthouse Board is headquartered in the elegant Georgian townhouse at 84 George Street. From this location it remotely controls over 400 lighthouses, beacons, buoys and other shipping aids around the coast of Scotland and the Isle of Man.
