Купчинская

Hidden amongst the sprawling residential blocks of Kupchino a forgotten echo whispers of a village long past. Kupchino’s story isn’t just one of concrete and Soviet-era architecture. It is a tapestry woven with threads of ancient history. Before the rise of high-rise buildings before the rumble of the metro a small village named Kupchinova existed. The name Kupchinova first appeared in written records in the early 17th century. This humble settlement nestled on the banks of the River Setuy. This was long before Saint Petersburg’s founding. The land then belonged to Great Novgorod later to the Grand Principality of Muscovy. The Stolbovskiy peace treaty ceded this land to Sweden. Kupchinova found itself under Swedish rule. The Swedes conducted a census in 1619. This provided the second known documentary evidence of the village’s existence. Swedish records show variations in the name Kuptzinoua Kupsinoua Kupsonoua. By 1643 Kupchinova had seven households. The village’s name is believed to have Slavic origins. It likely connected to the words kupetz and pokupka meaning merchant and purchase. The area’s population changed after the Russian-Swedish wars. Orthodox inhabitants left fearing oppression. Swedish Finns replaced them. The Slavic name Kupchinova held no meaning for the Swedes and Finns. The name gradually transformed into Kupsilla. In 1702 the land became Russian once more. In 1711 the village was given to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. After Saint Petersburg’s founding the population shifted again. Slavs returned replacing the Finnish colonists. The name evolved back towards Kupchino. Throughout the 18th century Kupchino remained a small village. It was isolated far from main roads. The only nearby road was Kurakina road. This connected Moscow and Schlisselburg highways. Kupchino was populated mainly by peasants. Noble people did not settle there. Before the 20th century Kupchino lacked a church. The Tsarskoselskaya railway was built nearby. It did not significantly impact life in the village. Kupchino’s obscurity attracted traders. They used it to transport goods to Saint Petersburg without paying customs duties. Inns and businesses thrived. Kupchino rarely belonged to private landowners. The State Treasury mostly owned it. This fostered a relatively free and prosperous life for the villagers. By 1906 a wooden church dedicated to St Gerasimos had been built. This marked Kupchino’s official status as a village. In the early 20th century Romanovo a new village emerged to the north of Kupchino. It was located between modern Belgradskaya and Sofiyskaya Streets. Active construction began in Romanovo from 1909. The October Revolution brought further changes. Romanovo was renamed Ryleevo. In 1919 it became part of Petrograd’s 1st Municipal District. After Petrograd was renamed Leningrad Ryleevo became part of Volodarskiy District. The land was later allocated to doctors and teachers. Garden co-operative societies were formed. These lasted until the 1970s. The Great Patriotic War brought hardship to Kupchino. Its residents were evacuated. Buildings were dismantled for fortifications and fuel. Only a few remained for military use. Defensive lines were built to protect Leningrad. Two of these lines crossed Kupchino. After the war Kupchino was rebuilt but not to its pre-war size. Mass housing construction began in 1964. Ryleevo and other settlements disappeared. Only a few pre-war buildings remain. The construction of Kupchino as a large residential area transformed the landscape. Modern Kupchino stands as a testament to this transformation. It’s a blend of historical echoes and modern urban development. Kupchino’s story lives on in its architecture in its people. It continues to evolve a vibrant part of Saint Petersburg.