Pelikansgränd
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....
, connecting Gaffelgränd
Gaffelgränd
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....
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 forms 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....
, Gaffelgränd
Gaffelgränd
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....
, 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 Lilla S:t Johannes gränd in 1664, Pilicans Gränden around 1700, and Pelekans gr[änd] in 1733. In the basement of the building still present on 39, Österlånggatan, constructed by a man named Hans Georg Cron who bought the site in 1664, was found an inn called Pelikan ("Pelican
Pelican
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....
"), an establishment which gave its name to both the building and the street. A noteworthy portal of historical interest is found on number 3.
Like most of the structures along the eastern waterfront, the buildings in the alley were built on garbage and landfills, and, as unveiled in connection with excavations in the 1940s and 1950s, 5–6 metres long poles pushed vertically through the layers during the 15th century, are today leaning some 20 degrees towards the water, thus indicating the area have been sliding eastward by some 2–3 metres and sinking by at least 1,5 metres.
The oldest archaeological traces underlying the area, remainders of a landing stage found close to today's Österlånggatan, shows it was first settled in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The oldest historical evidence mentions two stone houses on Österlånggatan flanking an alley leading down to a bulwark
Bulwark
Bulwark may refer to:*A bastion or fortifications in general*In naval terminology, an extension of a ship's sides above deck level*HMS Bulwark, any of several Royal Navy ships*USS Bulwark, any of several US Navy ships...
by the water demolished in 1430. The location of the bulwark can still be seen in the borders between the properties south of the alley.
An archaeological investigation in 1997-1998, showed the storehouse on number 1 is from 1700, and the building east of it probably from the same time.