The Lastadie is first mentioned in 1361 as "lastadia," making it the oldest part of the suburb. It originally encompassed the entire area adjoining the Mottlau river, from the corner of the Vorstädtischer Graben (Suburban Moat) and the Winterplatz to the Thornsche Gasse. Only the western side was built up; the eastern side facing the Mottlau remained open until the end of the 18th century.

The Lastadie and its facilities served shipbuilding and was divided into three sections: the Kahnfeld (Boat Field), the Mastenfeld (Mast Field), and the Lastadie proper. The latter extended from the Vorstädtischer Graben to the level of the Pumpengang. The area to the south, reaching to a fire lane that ran perpendicular to the Mottlau as a continuation of the passage still existing today between Lastadie 24/25 (called "Freters Gang" in the 17th century), was occupied by the Mastenfeld. Beyond that lay the Kahnfeld, separated from the Dielenmarkt (Plank Market) by the Thornsche Gasse.

The name "Lastadie," with its variant form "Lastagie," is probably a loanword transmitted from Flanders to the east. In its original sense it meant ballast; as late as 1345 it was used in Wismar in the regulation: "quod nullus projiciat lastadien in dep." However, this meaning could not establish itself because the Low German expression "Ballast" was already in common use. Instead, the word came to designate locations where ships were initially ballasted. Since shipyards naturally developed at such sites, the word eventually became a general term for places where shipbuilding was carried out.

History