The lane formed part of a passage already provided for in the Main Town's founding charter of 1342, which ran behind the city wall from the Ankerschmiedetor (Anchor Smiths' Gate) to the Fish Market and was commonly called "Hintergasse" (Back Lane).

The section occupied by today's Kleine Gerbergasse (Small Tanners' Lane) is referred to in 1633 as "hinter der Gerbergasse" (behind Tanners' Lane) or "hinter der Gerbergasse an der Mauer" (behind Tanners' Lane at the wall). From this point on, it was associated with the tanning trade.

In 1796, the designation "im Parchem" also appears. However, this was a late and inaccurate transfer that did not reflect the original situation. The Zwinger or Parcham -- the barbican -- was located not behind but in front of the wall. It referred to the space between the main city wall and a second, lower wall positioned in front of it, which sat directly on the inner slope wall of the moat.

In Danzig, the entire western and southern front was equipped with such a defensive arrangement. Its last remnant is still preserved today in the so-called Hall between the Zeughaus (Arsenal) and the Langgasser Tor (Long Lane Gate), which served as the shooting range of the Brotherhood of St. George.

From 1691 to 1845, the lane was thus erroneously called "im Parcham," even though the actual Parcham was on the other side of the wall.

History