I disagree Retlaw that we should just accept the nickname they have been given .. usually a great story of local interest and the ways of our past ancestors. Someone will remember why they were called 'monkey steps' somewhere. Think Atarah not far off the mark ... just the way they had to be climbed or summat like that ... the way of a monkey.
Noticed on a Wirral Forum .. they had the same nickname for Monkey/Donkey steps .. they had part of the town called 'Donkey Town', there was a letter in their Wirral Times which went like this:
"The mother told us that it got its name because the owner of the donkey kept it in the parlour. It was used to pull carts which belonged to the firewood sellers who went around the district.
In the Summer, in hot sunny weather, these donkeys had a straw hat on their heads with two holes for their ears to come through.
In those days they sold treacle and syrup in the streets. We took jars out to buy the treacle from the vendors. Also rag men came with balloons and toys which were exchanged for rags.
Times have changed, we as children enjoyed these visits to our streets."
Now that is cool ..
Noticed we have a Donkey Lane which runs down the side of Church Kirk church to the Leeds and Liverpool canal .. didn't know this, must be an 'ass' story there .....
.. was just querying whether there were more steps 'then' than there is 'now'.
for making a few shots in the dark ! 
