| In the early
1750s it was evident that Helsinki had entered
into a new time and period, not only because a
new clock was placed in the bell-tower, but
mostly because of foreign politics and the
realities it set. The border had been redrawn
and the new border was considerably closer to
Helsinki. Therefore a new fortress was
build to Helsinki. Lieutenant-colonel Augustin
Ehrensvärd began the task of building the
fortress in 1748, with money received from
France. The sea fortress "the Gibraltar of the North" was
build on the small islands off Helsinki shore.
The fortress, named as Sveaborg had other buildings
in addition to the actual fortress: shipyards,
houses for officers and quarters for soldiers. Ehrensvärd aimed to create
aesthetically pleasant surroundings in
Sveaborg, and he |
|
designed squares and parks to
brighten up the otherwise bare surroundings.
Sveaborg meant decisive progress for
Helsinki. Helsinki was still a small town when
the construction work was started. From time
to time the population of Sveaborg was larger
than in Helsinki. The town merchants got an
opportunity to earn money by selling building
material for Sveaborg.
Some
of the merchants had to expand their business
affairs by starting tile factories, glassworks
and saw mills. Trading and business life in
Helsinki became much more diversified after
the 1750s.
Sveaborg did not only bring material goods
to Helsinki, but also cultural life. The
latest ideas and fashions spread from Sveaborg
to Helsinki.
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