Didrik Ficks Gränd
Encyclopedia
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....
. Stretching from Västerlånggatan
Västerlånggatan
Västerlånggatan is a street in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching southward between the squares Mynttorget and Järntorget, it follows the course of the city's now demolished 13th century defensive wall....
to Stora Nygatan
Stora Nygatan
Stora Nygatan is a street in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden.Old names : nyegatun , nyia gaatan, den nya Konnungsgatun, stora konungsgatun , den store Nye gatan , Konnungsgatun , Nye gaten, KongsGaten , Kongs- eller stoora Nygatan, stora Kongs- el' Nygatan , Stora...
, it forms a parallel street to Sven Vintappares Gränd
Sven Vintappares Gränd
Sven Vintappares Gränd is a small alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching from Västerlånggatan to Stora Nygatan, it forms a parallel street to Överskärargränd and Didrik Ficks Gränd, while passing on the north side of the small square Sven Vintappares Torg.First...
and Yxsmedsgränd
Yxsmedsgränd
Yxsmedsgränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden.Stretching south from Västerlånggatan to Stora Nygatan, it forms a parallel street to Didrik Ficks Gränd and Kåkbrinken and is crossed by Lilla Nygatan and Munkbrogatan.Throughout its history it appears under various...
while passing on the south side of the small square Sven Vintappares Torg
Sven Vintappares Torg
Sven Vintappares Torg is a small public square in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. North and south of the square are the alleys Sven Vintappares Gränd and Didrik Ficks Gränd, both leading to Västerlånggatan and Stora Nygatan.Like the neighbouring square Gåstorget situated a...
.
Mentioned as Dirich Fiskes grendh in 1617, Diedrik Fischers gränd in 1674, and Diedrich Ficks Gränd in 1800, the alley is named after a merchant and inkeeper, most likely bearing the genuine name Didrich Fischer and immigrating from Germany. The man in question is mentioned in 1620 as living in a building in the alley owned by an Erik Jöransson Tegel. The alley was named Jöran Perssons gränd in 1563 after the latter's father, Jöran Persson, one of the advisers of King Eric XIV
Eric XIV of Sweden
-Family and descendants:Eric XIV had several relationships before his marriage. With Agda Persdotter he had four daughters:#Margareta Eriksdotter , married 1592 to Olov Simonsson, vicar of Horn....
. The name of the alley appears as Swedish variations of the name the German man, before being named Didrich Fischs gränd on a map dated 1733.
In Number 3 facing the small square was, presumably, a poorhouse
Poorhouse
A poorhouse or workhouse was a government-run facility in the past for the support and housing of dependent or needy persons, typically run by a local government entity such as a county or municipality....
in the 18th century, following the unsuccessful wars of Charles XII
Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII also Carl of Sweden, , Latinized to Carolus Rex, Turkish: Demirbaş Şarl, also known as Charles the Habitué was the King of the Swedish Empire from 1697 to 1718...
crowded with soldiers, poor, and vagrants, finally forcing the authorities to issue a decree urging idle people to give precedence to disabled.