Canaan Lane

The names of several streets in the area follow an Egyptian theme, such as Nile Grove and Canaan Lane. Jordan Lane is named for the small but persistent Jordan Burn which trickles out of sight under Morningside Road. Several theories exist for the origins of these names, and Charles Smith, in his noted history of the area, indicates that the historical evidence does not support a favourite theory. Theories include the presence of a large number of gypsies at the time the land was feud out; the immigration shortly afterwards of a number of notable Jewish people; a connection to the army of Oliver Cromwell and simply the presence of Egypt Farm, nearby.