Stora Hamnkanalen

Stenpiren, the Stone Pier, was built in 1844 and was Gothenburg's first big harbour by Göta Älv. The Delaware monument by the famous Swedish sculptor Carl Milles is on Stenpiren.
At the same time and neighbouring Stenpiren two quays were built, Skeppsbrokajen and Packhuskajen.
Packhuskajen is the whole area between the entrances to Stora Hamnkanalen and Lilla Hamnkanalen. There was a warehouse (Swedish = Pachhus) along the quay as well as "The French Site". At this site France was granted the right to have a warehouse and freedom from taxes. This site was part of the Swedish payment when buying the island S:t Barthélemy from france in 1784.
By the second half of the 19th and first half of the 20th century mos of the big shipping companies had their offices here.

Stenpiren marks the netrance to Stora Hamnkanalen.

Stenpiren and Stora Hamnkanalen
on a photo shot from the ferry to UK.
© Picture by Anders Arnholm, 2004

Stora Hamnkanalen was the Gothenburg harbour more than 200 years. The building of it started directly after the town was founded. It was built after Dutch pattern and with Dutch management. Works started in 1620 and it was opened in 1622.
Stora Hamnkanalen directly became the vital nreve of the town. Ships were loaded and unloaded, there was a lively market trade at Stora Torget, now Gustav Adolfs Torg. Along this canal the most prominent people in town lived and they usually hade their own brygde. Later big and exclusive houses were built along the canal, like the Court House, the Town Hall, the Wenngren House, the East Indian Company House and last Börsen, the Exchange House.
The Swedish East India Company started to trade in 1731 an their ships were too big for Stora Hamnkanalen. Instead they anchored by Klippan in Göta River and barges brought the cargo of tea, porclain, silk and spices to the head office at Stoa Hamnkanalen. That house, built in the 1750ies is now town museum.
On the island in Stora Hamnkanalen, now called Brunnsparken, there was an iron scale were all iron was weighed before export. this scale was later moved, and the new place for it got the name Järntorget - the Iron Square.
Small cargo boats used Stora Hamnkanalen well into the 20th century, even though the big harbours in Göta River hade been built at that time.
Pictures from the early 20th century show a swarm of boats, masts, sails and people busy along the canal.
But when the bridges wererenewew and not longer could be opened all the boats disappeared. Stora Hamnkanalen became a calm mirror of water. The only boats to be seen here were the sightseeingboats and occasionally some youngsters in powerboats looking for young girls at the qauys.
There have been plans for getting an old ship into the canal and use as restaurant or café. But hese plans are still only plans.

© Text written by Ingrid Wirsin
Ingrid Wirsin is a welknown journalist in Gothenburg, with a special feeling for buildings and history.

The sightseeingboats are very popular in Gothenburg.
They are all called Paddan - The Toad.
The warehouse is on the right in this picture.

The first baisin of the canal seen from the river.

Sources: STF:s Yearbook 1995, Kanaler, STF:s Göteborgsguide 1979, many charts and maps.
Do send comments or further information to: Bosse Arnholm!

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