the alley is named after the telegraph inaugurated in 1869 and located in the block north of the alley. prior to this it was named "saltkompanigränden" ("the salt company alley") after the salt manufacturer from västervik who had a warehouse built on a site they bought in 1647. in 1508, the alley was called "lindhwidz grend", presumably after a skipper known as "lindivd skeppare", who in 1512 was fined for having brought 100 loads of "mould and muck from the gate to the bridge" (e.g. into town).