Gaffelgränd
Encyclopedia
Gaffelgränd is an alley
in Gamla stan
, the old town of Stockholm
, Sweden
, connecting Skeppsbron
to Lilla Hoparegränd
and Pelikansgränd
, both of which are leading to Österlånggatan
.
It is a parallel street to Ferkens Gränd
, Lilla Hoparegränd
, Pelikansgränd
, and Johannesgränd
.
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.
The origin of the name is not entirely clear. In its old form (1720), Gavelgränd ("Gable Alley"), it might refer to the gable
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 the dedications in his epistle
s, the troubadour Carl Michael Bellman
(1740–1795), still popular for his devotion to wine and women, mentions the alley twice, or rather a tavern in it:
The alley's reputation is reconfirmed a century later by the poet Anna Maria Lenngren
(1754–1817). When paraphrasing Charles-François Panard's (1689–1765) Les merveilles de l'Opéra in her parody Operan ("The Opera"), she makes ironic use of Gaffelgränd:
Alley
An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane found in urban areas, often for pedestrians only, which usually runs between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting...
in Gamla stan
Gamla stan
Gamla stan , until 1980 officially Staden mellan broarna , is the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Gamla stan consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen. The surrounding islets Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg are officially part of, but not colloquially included in, Gamla stan...
, the old town of Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, connecting Skeppsbron
Skeppsbron
Skeppsbron 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....
to Lilla Hoparegränd
Lilla Hoparegränd
Lilla Hoparegränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Passing between Skeppsbron and Österlånggatan, it forms a parallel street to Ferkens Gränd, Gaffelgränd, Pelikansgränd, and Johannesgränd....
and Pelikansgränd
Pelikansgränd
Pelikansgränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, connecting Gaffelgränd to Österlånggatan...
, both of which are leading to Österlånggatan
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...
.
It is a parallel street to Ferkens Gränd
Ferkens Gränd
Ferkens Gränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, connecting Skeppsbron to Österlånggatan. It forms a parallel street to Drakens gränd, Lilla Hoparegränd, Pelikansgränd, and Gaffelgränd....
, Lilla Hoparegränd
Lilla Hoparegränd
Lilla Hoparegränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Passing between Skeppsbron and Österlånggatan, it forms a parallel street to Ferkens Gränd, Gaffelgränd, Pelikansgränd, and Johannesgränd....
, Pelikansgränd
Pelikansgränd
Pelikansgränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, connecting Gaffelgränd to Österlånggatan...
, and Johannesgränd
Johannesgränd
Johannesgränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, connecting Skeppsbron to Österlånggatan....
.
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.
The origin of the name is not entirely clear. In its old form (1720), Gavelgränd ("Gable Alley"), it might refer to the gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
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 the dedications in his epistle
Epistle
An epistle is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal didactic letter. The epistle genre of letter-writing was common in ancient Egypt as part of the scribal-school writing curriculum. The letters in the New Testament from Apostles to Christians...
s, the troubadour Carl Michael Bellman
Carl Michael Bellman
was a Swedish poet and composer. Bellman is a central figure in the Swedish song tradition and remains a very important influence in Swedish music, as well as in Scandinavian literature in general, to this day....
(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
Anna Maria Lenngren was a Swedish writer, poet, feminist, translator and salonist. She is one of the best-known Swedish woman poets.-Background:...
(1754–1817). When paraphrasing Charles-François Panard's (1689–1765) Les merveilles de l'Opéra in her parody Operan ("The Opera"), she makes ironic use of Gaffelgränd:
| Panard | |
|---|---|
J'ai vu l'aimable Cythérée Aux doux regards, au teint fleuri Dans une machine entourée D'amours natifs de Chambéri. |
I've seen the amiable from Kythera Mild glances, colourful skin In a machine surrounded By lovers native from Chambéri Chambéry Chambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry... . |
| Lenngren | |
Jag sett Cythérens drottning fara uti sin char med duvor spänd, och i sin gudom åtföljd vara av gracer ifrån Gaffelgränd. |
I've seen the Queen of Kythera leave in her carriage pigeons lead, and in her divinity accompanied be by graces from Gaffelgränd. |