Here's another pic. I found in the library. The steps are long gone, but the top part of Hillside Rd. is still there.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...hx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

Good Stuff Chris, i dont know too much about Tranmere early days, it always seemed very Victorian to me.

walked up them yesterday!

i had to walk up them when i sold my car and was getting the train to and from work.

As mentioned Chris, the steps are still there today.

Click Me

Good find though

are they the steps right by the old house pub (doubt it's still open) - kind of opposite where green lane station is?

sure we used to call them the monkey steps? (i'm not sure y we called them that, but they may have been linked to monks or something) - another little avenue of investigation for u...

Yeah Davey, they are by the side of a pub, not sure of the name, but it's still open.

I've known them as monkey steps too, I think its because each step is so long, you have to walk like a monkey to step on each one lol

I very much doubt they go back as far as the monks though mate lol

lol think it's the old house or little house - bin of a pub, me grandad practically used to live in there

how long ago did the monks exist? lol - i wouldnt have a clue, could be right with ur conclusion!

The Monks - between 1150 and 1536, so at least 3 centuries before the steps lol

lol yea, i think u could be right with that one...

Although, as a child I lived in Prenton, a lot of my friends lived in Tranmere. The Monkey Steps were always called as such. No one could ever say why they had that name. They were just ... The Monkey Steps !

Near to the steps is the area that is now Holborn Square Ind. Est. It was known as Donkey Town. Pretty grim and not too many folk shed a tear when it all got the chop. Again.... why "Donkey Town" ??

Anyone any thoughts on this ? Sorry if drifting OT a bit.

Well, I'd no idea the steps were still there, but the other day driving round there I remember seeing The Old House At Home pub. A strange name, but quite a common one; I know another two, both in the Black Country.

i used walk up & down them when i used go on little adventures with my sister but one time we walked all the way to Rock Ferry railway station from the botom of them and the poiice looked for us also they are near a couple of enterences to the tranmere tunnels

happened to be in the area tonight

Hi all I am new to the site think this might be my first posting I lived in Oriel Road for 23 years so most of my childhood was spent in Tranmere I can remember the old White cottages along Old Chester Rd witch was called Donkey Town just before the Monkey Steps found this link that explains the name of donkey town
http://archive.wirralglobe.co.uk/1997/7/3/21660.html
Cheers Chris Markey

Hi and welcome Chris_M that was a cool story behind the name, i could picture the little donkey with his hat on

monkey steps

Great pics Derek



There is a topic on the monkey steps in Tranmere, but I don't think we found out why they are called that.

I've heard of this before where about is it?

Takes me back to my childhood.

Here's an earlier thread about the Monkey Steps.
https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums.../steps/Search/true/Steps.html#Post242296

In reply to both the monkey steps and donkey town which is on a seperate thread.
The pub at the bottom of the monkey steps is the Old House at Home and it is still open. During the late 1940s and early 1950s and most likley long before then. The men selling bundles of sticks for the fire kept the donkeys that pulled the carts in a yard in Stewart Place {which was always known as donkey town. I was born in Lower Tranmere as where both my parent. The earlier generation where in Tranmere in the 1870s

I only know these steps as the donkey steps, that's why the steps are long, easy for a donkey to use to take loads up top.