Edinburgh has a fascinating history dating back thousands of years, with evidence of a settlement in the Cramond area from around 8500 BC.
The city’s name comes from ‘Eidyn’, the name for the region in Cumbric – the Brittonic language spoken in the Northern England and Lowland Scotland in the Middle Ages.
At this time a stronghold on Castle Rock was called Din Eidyn, literally meaning ‘the hillfort of Eidyn’. As the Scots language evolved, the Din was replaced by ‘burh’, creating Edinburgh.
And there are plenty more clues to the Capital’s complex past in the names of the streets, roads, and lanes that make up the city, all of which come from a multitude of languages, backgrounds and people.
The name Stockbridge itself dates back to at least the first half of the 18th century and comes from the Scots ‘stock brig’, referring to a wooden footbridge that presumably crossed the Water of Leith.
Here are the stories behind 10 of the road names in the neighbourhood and the surrounding areas.
5. Sax-Coburg Place
Sax-Coburg Place and nearby Claremont Place were both named in honour of Prince Leopold of Sax Coburg, the husband of George IV's daughter Princess Charlotte. His family home in Surrey was called Claremont. Photo: Google Maps
6. Bedford Street
First developed in around 1825, it's thought that Bedford Street was named after John the 6th Duke of Bedford who was a politician, art collector and authority on agriculture. Photo: Google Maps
7. Learmonth Terrace
Learmonth Terrace is named after John Learmonth of Dean (who also lends his name to all the nearby roads with 'Dean' in their name). He was Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1831 to 1833 and the co-funder of the Dean Bridge project. Photo: Google Maps
8. Portgower Place
Portgower Pace was originally called Rocheid Street and was named after the Rocheid lairds of Inverlieith. When a row of terraced houses were built there in around 1880 the builders renamed the road, drawing inspiration from the village of Portgower near Helmsdale, which means 'goat harbour'. Photo: Google Maps