Monkey steps

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

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.

[Atarah]

Children when playing would be running up and down these steps - as monkeys run up and down trees? ("as nimble as monkeys")

[Tealeaf]

OK....one interseting point, though. After I made my last post I looked at Atarah's piccy's (which I had previously missed). There appears to be three different sorts of brickwork/stonework by the step's exit....any theory why?

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

OK....one interseting point, though. After I made my last post I looked at Atarah's piccy's (which I had previously missed). There appears to be three different sorts of brickwork/stonework by the step's exit....any theory why?

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.

[joaner3]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

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?

They are or where!

[katex]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

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.

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 .....

[Retlaw]

[quote=katex;787657]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.
Hi Snakehead.
A thowt thad ev a do at mi, thi wur calld Munky Steps wen a wur a lad, mi faythur calld um Munky Steps an if e wur still ear he wud be 105.
So oose bena remember wen thi wur fost called Munky Steps.
Mebe Atarah's reight bud oose ony guessin.

Retlaw.

[katex]

Hi Lurch,

But stories are passed on from generation to generation aren't they... maybe with a few additions though .. LOL.

I've never been up them ... how far do/did they go up then .. was it just the few steps as in Atarah's 'photo ? Yes . does appear so in your map .. before you tell me to go to Specsavers (or did you draw them in) ..

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by katex

Hi Lurch,

But stories are passed on from generation to generation aren't they... maybe with a few additions though .. LOL.

I've never been up them ... how far do/did they go up then .. was it just the few steps as in Atarah's 'photo ? Yes . does appear so in your map .. before you tell me to go to Specsavers (or did you draw them in) ..

Hi Snakehead.
Aye gu tu specsavers then luk ad post 4, idl tel thi wur thi gu too.

Retlaw.

[katex]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

Hi Snakehead.
Aye gu tu specsavers then luk ad post 4, idl tel thi wur thi gu too.

Retlaw.

Yes, I can see that .. was just querying whether there were more steps 'then' than there is 'now'.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by katex

Yes, I can see that .. was just querying whether there were more steps 'then' than there is 'now'.

I've given up on thee, why the ell would anybody need to add or remove them steps, they've bin there oer 160 years. Ged on wi thi knittin un mek anuther cardigan.

Retlaw

[katex]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

I've given up on thee, why the ell would anybody need to add or remove them steps, they've bin there oer 160 years. Ged on wi thi knittin un mek anuther cardigan.

Retlaw

Just askin' .. never ask, never get.

Knittin' ? Well, I actually can tha' noes. Think I was one of those women during the French revolution in a past life .. so watch it

[DaveinGermany]

Although not from the area, I still find local History interesting, & the thing about your "steps" being called Monkey, could it be a corruption of maybe Manky or Money ? Would that in any way fit into your local History. Or maybe in a Military sense as in Brass Monkey (Holder for cannon balls)? like a local artillery unit City defence or some such ? Probably way off the mark but just maybe ? Then there's religion Monks ? or as I've just looked the old steps leading onto trams & Buses & the like where conductors stood were called Monkey boards ?

[katex]

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany

Although not from the area, I still find local History interesting, & the thing about your "steps" being called Monkey, could it be a corruption of maybe Manky or Money ? Would that in any way fit into your local History. Or maybe in a Military sense as in Brass Monkey (Holder for cannon balls)? like a local artillery unit City defence or some such ? Probably way off the mark but just maybe ? Then there's religion Monks ? or as I've just looked the old steps leading onto trams & Buses & the like where conductors stood were called Monkey boards ?

Mmmm . there all food for thought Dave. They may have been 'manky' .. meaning grim and dirty, and evolved to monkey.

Monks ... weren't any then when these were built.

As for the cannon theory ... reckon Retlaw will soon be back shooting you down on this one ...

[MargaretR]

Monkeys were caged curiosities/attractions at one time.
There was one at Roughlee by the boating lake, and they physically hung one in Hartlepool, when it was thought to be a Napoleonic/french spy.

Perhaps a local resident nearby kept one caged in their window, and it was visible from those steps.