[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Atarah

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!)

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