Gaffelgränd is an
alley
An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane, path, or passageway, often reserved for pedestrians, which usually runs between, behind, or within buildings in the older parts of towns and cities. It is also a rear access or service road (back lane ...
in
Gamla stan Gamla stan (, "The Old Town"), until 1980 officially Staden mellan broarna ("The Town between the Bridges"), is the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Gamla stan consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen. Officially, but not colloquially, Gamla stan ...
, the old town of
Stockholm,
Sweden, connecting
Skeppsbron
Skeppsbron (Swedish: "The Ship's Bridge") is both a street and a quay in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, capital of Sweden, stretching from the bridge Strömbron in front of the Royal Palace southward to Slussen.
The quay Skeppsbrokajen ru ...
to
Lilla Hoparegränd and
Pelikansgränd, both of which are leading to
Österlånggatan
Österlånggatan () is a street in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching southward from Slottsbacken to Järntorget, it forms a parallel street to Baggensgatan and Skeppsbron. Major sights include the statue of Saint George ...
. It is a parallel street to
Ferkens Gränd,
Lilla Hoparegränd,
Pelikansgränd, and
Johannesgränd.
History
The alley appears in historical records as ''Hopare Gränden'' in 1700, ''Gaffelgränden'' in 1720, and ''gafwel gränden'' in 1720. It came to being as the old city wall was demolished and Skeppsbron projected in the 1630s. The alleys leading east from Österlånggatan were then extended down to the new quay, of unknown reason with the exception of Lilla Hoparegränd and Pelikangränd. The two corner houses flanking Gaffelgränd were built instead, probably before 1647, and the alley created as a result.
Etymology
The origin of the name is not entirely clear. In its old form (1720), ''Gavelgränd'' ("Gable Alley"), it might refer to the
gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...
in the western end of the street viewable from Skeppsbron; or, as on a map dated 1733 and as its modern name implies, ''Gaffelgränd'' ("Fork Alley") might refer to the fork-like structure formed by the three alleys.
In culture
In the dedications in his
epistles, the troubadour
Carl Michael Bellman
Carl Michael Bellman (; 4 February 1740 – 11 February 1795) was a Swedish songwriter, composer, musician, poet and entertainer. He is a central figure in the Swedish song tradition and remains a powerful influence in Swedish music, as well ...
(1740–1795), still popular for his devotion to wine and women, mentions the alley twice, or rather a tavern in it:
* In
Epistle 5:
: ''Till the trogne bröder på Terra Nova i Gaffelgränden''
: To the faithful brothers at 'Terra Nova' in The Fork Alley
*
Epistle 18:
: ''Till gubbarna på Terra Nova i Gaffelgränden vid Skeppsbron''
: To the old men at 'Terra Nova' in The Fork Alley at Skeppsbron
The alley's reputation is reconfirmed a century later by the poet
Anna Maria Lenngren
Anna Maria Lenngren, née ''Malmstedt'' (June 18, 1754 – March 8, 1817), was one of the most famous poets in Swedish history. Her father and brother were also poets.
One of her best-known poems is ''Några ord till min kära dotter, ifall jag ...
(1754–1817). When paraphrasing
Charles-François Panard
Charles-François Panard, or Pannard, (2 November 1689Some sources indicate Nogent-le-Roi as birthplace. Moreover, the 1689 birth year is given by the BN-Opale base of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. However, several authors (Allem, Grent ...
's (1689–1765) ''Les merveilles de l'Opéra'' in her parody ''Operan'' ("The Opera"), she makes ironic use of Gaffelgränd:
See also
*
List of streets and squares in Gamla stan
This is an alphabetical list of streets, alley, squares, and other structures in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, including the islands Stadsholmen, Helgeandsholmen
Helgeandsholmen () is a small island in central Stockholm, Sweden. It ...
References
External links
hitta.se - Location map and virtual walk
Streets in Stockholm
{{Stockholm-road-stub