Trinidad and Tobago’s history is so rich that a walk through downtown Port-of-Spain revisits three eras of the nation’s past—Spanish, French and British.
When Don José María Chacón arrived as the final Spanish governor in 1784, the capital was still a much smaller settlement. It quickly expanded from an early mid-18th-century core into a growing grid, laying the groundwork for the thoroughfares and public squares that still define the city.
Layers of a colonial past
Did you know that Duncan Street was once known as Calle del Infante? During the French period, it became Rue des Trois Chandelles, or the street of three candles—a title inspired by the lanterns lit outside the Masonic lodge Les Frères Unis on meeting nights. British authorities later dedicated the route to Admiral Adam Duncan.
Nelson Street, on the other hand, started life as Calle del Príncipe. But under French administration, it became Rue de l’Eglise, translating to Church Street. British authorities permanently designated it to honour Admiral Horatio Nelson, the celebrated Royal Navy commander.
George Street shares a comparable evolution. Its Spanish name was Calle de San José, but the French preferred Rue de la Place, or Place Street (reflecting the market that once stood there), preceding the British transition to its present designation after King George III.
Functionality drove early urban design entirely. Each route pointed straight to a house of worship, a public square, or a landmark designed to steer travellers safely through the bustling town.
“Renaming streets and other places is something that should be seriously considered, given our colonial past. It means that some of us are desirous of highlighting other people and stories that we believe are more deserving of such prominence,” explains Nesyamn Ranut, senior heritage preservation and research officer at the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago.
“Some may, for example, recall the recent renaming of Queen Street to Queen Janelle ‘Penny’ Commissiong Street. As many of us would know, she made history as the first Black woman and first Caribbean woman to win the Miss Universe title. So, that renaming would have made many people proud, especially where an achievement like that was unprecedented before her victory.”
When looking at potential changes, Ranut points out two important factors: There must be consensus among the population, and this has to be accompanied by public education and an understanding of why the change is being made. “We must not attempt to erase our history. Our colonial past is, admittedly, quite painful, but the idea is not about erasing the past. We do not want to negate the story or prevent future generations from understanding it. So, if we do rename a place, I believe that it should be accompanied by a plaque or other form of interpretation explaining what the name was previously and why it was changed.”
Commercial hubs
Known for its busy market stalls, street vendors, and a long-standing Chinese community that led to part of the area becoming Chinatown, Charlotte Street has a rich commercial history. Before trade defined the route, it was originally Calle de Santa Ana because it ran near the St Ann’s River. French residents called it Rue Sainte Anne, and the British later named it after Queen Charlotte.
Nalis archives document Chinese associations operating here from the early 20th century onward, including the Chinese National Association at number 19 in 1912, the Toy Shan Association at number 9 in 1939, and the China Society at number 16 in 1956. Royal heritage provided the label, but immigrant enterprise shaped the true identity of the block.
Around the block, Frederick Street developed as the formal retail and commercial backbone of the capital. It began as Calle de San Carlos, paying tribute to King Charles II of Spain, before French locals informally translated it as Rue des Anglais, or Street of the English. Well into the late 19th century, a British writer of the era noted that citizens still referred to the route by its older appellation. Imperial planners eventually settled on Frederick Street after Frederick, Prince of Wales.
Henry Street experienced a similar cycle. Spanish administrators recorded it as Calle Herrera, named after a chief of police. French speakers labelled it Rue Neuve, signifying New Street. British officials later dedicated it to Prince Henry. A pathway once viewed as modern has now anchored the capital for centuries, outlasting generations of merchants and residents.
Chacon Street stands apart by keeping its foundational name across three colonial administrations, running as Calle Chacon under Spain, Rue Chacon during the French era, and holding that same title with British rule.
Honouring Don José María Chacón, who governed Trinidad from 1784 until the 1797 capitulation, the label secures a direct link to the past. Chacón physically reshaped the municipality too. In 1787, he ordered the St Ann’s River diverted eastward, creating vital land for urban expansion.
Public spaces
Woodford Square boasts a multi-layered background. Authorities originally designated it Brunswick Square before rebranding it in 1917 to honour Sir Ralph James Woodford, the fourth British governor. Woodford spearheaded major waterfront land reclamation, converting a portion of Paradise Estate into the Queen’s Park Savannah, and upgraded municipal roadways. Then, during the 1950s, Dr Eric Williams transformed the greenspace into an open-air academic hub dubbed the University of Woodford Square. By the tumultuous political awakening of 1970, activists repurposed the grounds as the People’s Parliament for public lectures and mass rallies.
Meanwhile, Marine Square, which later became Independence Square, carries the most transparent geographical evolution. Spanish settlers mapped the waterfront sector as Plaza de la Marina due to its direct proximity to the sea. British forces converted this to Marine Square following the 1797 takeover. Land reclamation gradually pushed the coastline outward as the capital flourished. Government officials designated the boulevard Independence Square in 1961, mere months before Independence.
As Dr Shad Gobinsingh, heritage preservation and research assistant, sums up: “These aren’t merely just names or ways to navigate Town but they are tangible footprints of the geopolitical shifts, commerce, remnants of colonial culture and everyday aspects that built our modern capital of Port-of-Spain.”
