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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Princes Street
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The main street of *Edinburgh, named after the prince of Wales (the future *George IV), possibly in conjunction with one or more of his brothers. It was one of the three original streets of the 18C New Town, but the buildings of that time along the north side have long since been replaced. What gives the street its great distinction is that there are no houses on the south side, allowing a superb view over an open valley (the Princes Street Gardens) to the Old Town and the castle on its rock. The most striking of the monuments on the south side is that of Walter *Scott, designed by George Kemp and erected in 1840–4 with a 61m/200ft Gothic spire above a statue of the writer (with his dog Maida) by John Steell (1804–91). Beyond the east end of the street rises another of Edinburgh's landmarks, *Calton Hill.
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