Walking down Manny road we past the Monkey steps and wondered why they are so called. In fact I 'd actually forgot they existed. Probably been posted before but anyone have a clue ?
Monkey steps
- Thread starter stanleyphil
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- heritage and history
As he's talking about "Manny Road", I'm assuming that he means somewhere up Manchester Road, although I can't think where. Thought those steps at the end of Perth Street were called the Donkey Steps?
The Monkey Steps in Manchester Rd, are at the South end of Bank Terrace and lead thro to Back Adelaide St.
Retlaw.
Never knew they were called the Monkey Steps. Cheers, Retlaw.
Donkey steps, thanks for that. It must be close to 50 years since I ran down them trying to land on each step but missing and almost breaking my ankles, EVERY TIME!!! Think I was a goldfish in a past life!
According to an old newspaper article, "Bank Steps were the steps that led from Manchester Road to the old fold of houses constituting Woolhurst Bank". In Christ Church Vicarage grounds is the old pump which formed one of the sources of water supply for the inhabitants.
(The Vicarage was once the big house you can see in the 2nd photo, although it has not been the vicarage for many many years). The fold consisted of a substantial farmhouse, the old homestead of the Haworths, and several cottages. In ancient times it would be quite a busy centre as three of the old roads entered into it. Anyone who came from the direction of the old King's Highway which crossed Black Moss would come down Sandy Lane, one of our most ancient roads, which was in existence in the 12th Century, passing High Riley and Broad Oak Fold on the way. The road entered into Woolhurst Bank.
Woolhurst Bank is a name no longer known by todays generation. Another road from the old fold passed down Adelaide Street to the old bridge across the stream, in what was Syke Street, opposite the old Black Dog.
(no comment from Retlaw please, I am only quoting what an old newspaper from 1917 said!)
(The Vicarage was once the big house you can see in the 2nd photo, although it has not been the vicarage for many many years). The fold consisted of a substantial farmhouse, the old homestead of the Haworths, and several cottages. In ancient times it would be quite a busy centre as three of the old roads entered into it. Anyone who came from the direction of the old King's Highway which crossed Black Moss would come down Sandy Lane, one of our most ancient roads, which was in existence in the 12th Century, passing High Riley and Broad Oak Fold on the way. The road entered into Woolhurst Bank.
Woolhurst Bank is a name no longer known by todays generation. Another road from the old fold passed down Adelaide Street to the old bridge across the stream, in what was Syke Street, opposite the old Black Dog.
(no comment from Retlaw please, I am only quoting what an old newspaper from 1917 said!)
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Atarah comes up with the goods as always! Cheers, would've given you some karma, but I've got to spread it around a bit. 
Okay don't get your knickers in a twist.
Just added part of the 1840 and 1848 street plan of the are it looks like the line of the Bank Steps (Monkey Steps) were a boundry between Woolhurst bank and Bank Terrace, probably a dispute over ownership. I think the last vicar of Christ Church to live there was Greensill, in the 1930's a dentist had it, we used to climb over the back wall and nick the plaster moulds for false teeth out of the dust bin, great stuff for drawing ontut flags.
Note your house isn't on the 1840, but it is on the 1848
Retlaw
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NO, they have been called Monkey Steps as long as I've lived, not every thing gets properly documented, you'll just have to accept that although their correct name was Bank Steps, they are the Monkey Steps. Local names by Local people.
Take Bunny's back for example, its proper name was back Birtwistle St, but Bunny lived in the 1st house and kept his donkey and cart in a stable in the back. You also have a local name for another part of Birtwistle St, it was nicknamed Pinch Belly Row.
Retlaw.
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Thwaites St and Lancaster St Ossy, are in a triangle bounded by Vine Mill and New Lane.
My dad was raised on nearby Stanley St and always referred to the area on that other side of New Lane as 'back o' John Harroths', and inferred that a 'rough lot' lived there.
Someone named John Haworth must have had connections there.
Most colloquial names fade into folk memory and are lost.
My dad was raised on nearby Stanley St and always referred to the area on that other side of New Lane as 'back o' John Harroths', and inferred that a 'rough lot' lived there.
Someone named John Haworth must have had connections there.
Most colloquial names fade into folk memory and are lost.
Well thats twice ive heard of that this week...my neighbour who's 89 now was brought up in Ossy and she was just mentioning that phrase...i'd never heard it before!!
Best Regards - Taggy
So not even a theory? If Bunny's was named after a character in the first house on back Birtwhistle St - and we can all think of similar examples - then somewhere in the distant past there has to be some reason for the naming of this particular spot. Surely someone can come up with some speculative theory - be it relating to the layout of these steps, the proximity of nearby trees, a corruption of another descriptive word or whatever - so is it not worth talking about?
Tha clutchin at straws if tha tryin to meck sense o nicknames, un them us gi id thad name are long gone, gioer fratchin n just accept ids calld Munky Steps.
Its like Cockney Rhyming slang it was in use for donkeys years before it was writen down, who knows who started that, I know why, but who ?.
Retlaw.
If you look at the plans of the area you will see that the wall to the right was there in 1840, and the steps and the other wall are on the 1848.
If you look closely you will see the date in red on the plans.
Tha naggin at this like an owd woman, wads up wi thi. Ged in libry un find sumat tu do.
Retlaw.
They are or where!