Sven Vintappares 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 Överskärargränd
Överskärargränd
Överskärargränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden...
and Didrik Ficks Gränd
Didrik Ficks Gränd
Didrik Ficks Gränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching from Västerlånggatan to Stora Nygatan, it forms a parallel street to Sven Vintappares Gränd and Yxsmedsgränd while passing on the south side of the small square Sven Vintappares Torg.Mentioned as Dirich...
, while passing on the north 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...
.
First mentioned as Swen wintapperes grendh in 1588, the alley is most likely named after Sven Staffansson, a man said to be Kung:e M:ttz tro tienere och wintappere (e.g. "His Majesty's true servant and wine-tapper") and mentioned as having bought a property in the alley. His widow is known to have been given a house on Helgeandsholmen
Helgeandsholmen
Helgeandsholmen is a small island in central Stockholm, Sweden. It is located north of Stadsholmen, and east of Strömsborg, with which, together with Riddarholmen, it forms Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm...
in 1620.
The writer and 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) mentions the alley in a poem describing Mårten Holk, an anonymous man living in the alley who drinks only water, however joining the army where he is taught to drink everything but water while obtaining 'a smart coat and a grand desk':
| Mårten Holk, af ingen känd | Mårten Holk, known by none |
| Knappt af hund och katten. | Barely by dog or cat |
| Bodde i Vintappargränd | Lived in Wine-tapper Alley |
| Och drack bara vatten. | And drank only water |
| [...] | [...] |
| Skrattar du min vän? Åh, tig, | Are you laughing my friend? Ah, be silent, |
| Drick och rök din pipa | Drink and smoke your pipe |
| Och lär dig en gång af krig | And learn for once to understand |
| Nyttan begripa! | The benefit of war! |
The author and actress Vera Siöcrona (1914–2003), who bravely battled the plans to demolish substantial parts of the old town and who published the book Mitt Gamla stan ("My Old Town") in 1966, settled in the alley in the middle of the 1940s, after her old address at Kolmätargränd
Kolmätargränd
Kolmätargränd is a small alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Passing under a low vault it connects the street Västerlånggatan to the square and courtyard Brantingtorget forming a parallel street to Klockgjutargränd and Stenbastugränd.Mentioned as Kholmetare Grenden in...
had been demolished. The troubadour Evert Taube
Evert Taube
Evert Axel Taube was a Swedish author, artist, composer and singer. He is best known for his folk songs, and is widely regarded as one of Sweden's most respected musicians.-Biography:...
(1890–1976), who flirted her, mentions their encounter in his song Vera i Vintappargränd.