George Street Heritage in Pictures: Here are 48 fascinating photos of the Edinburgh shopping street from the 1950s and 1960s

Connecting St Andrew Square in the east with Charlotte Square in the west, George Street is one of Edinburgh’s best-known thoroughfares.

Taking its name from King George III, George Street is part of the first New Town of Edinburgh, which was planned and built in the 18th century by James Craig.

The street was constructed in 1767 and was originally intended to be a residential area, but by Victorian times the houses were replaced by shops, businesses, banks, small department stores and hotels.

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Statues at the various junctions of George Street include prominent churchman Thomas Chalmers, British prime minister William Pitt the Younger, King George IV, and the Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell.

Today the street is home to a wide range of bars, restaurants and cafes – along with a selection of fashionable clothing stores.

Here are 48 photos from The Scotsman archives to take you back to the George Street of the 1950s and 1960s.

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