The Story of Pedersgata

Pedersgata stretches from Nytorget in Stavanger city centre to Møllehaugen in the east. Once a working-class neighbourhood with challenging living conditions, it was also a lively shopping street with a wide range of local stores.

The area developed mainly between 1800 and 1900 and is now part of Stavanger’s famous “Wooden House City,” known for its small, historic wooden houses.

The street got its name in 1861 from St. Peter’s Church, originally built around 1270. Over time, the church and surrounding area—known as Pedersgjerdet—gave rise to several local place names, including Pedersgata itself.

Most of the source material for the history of the buildings in Pedersgata is collected by Lisa Thelin Knutsen over a period of more than 15 years. Sources for the history of the buildings in Pedersgata and Nytorget also includes Rogalands Avis, Stavanger Aftenblad, municipal censuses, the Digital Archives, and more.