I took a swing by the aforementioned Cromwell’s Quarters earlier to get a snap of the recently replaced sign. Whether the old sign was swiped or merely kept in storage while building work was going on next to the lane, who knows, but its not there if you take a look on Google Maps…
I also came across this map from 1885, seven years before the name changed to Cromwell’s Quarters on the excellent rootschat forum which marks the steps as “Murdering Lane.” Granted, you do have to squint, but there it is between Bowe Lane and the South Dublin Union.
When I was a child as far as I can remember there was a constant dispute whether Cromwells Quarters was the Forty Steps or whether the Forty Steps in High Street beside St Audeons were the real Forty Steps. In addition despite having walked many times up and down the Forty Steps and counted I could never conclude whether or not there actually are forty steps.
There are three historical references I’ve found in dublin as being the Forty Steps, High Street, Cromwells Quarters and in the Phoenix Park. Always amicable end to debates when both parties are proved right 🙂
There is a Cromwell’s bridge in Kenmare, Co.Cork.
There was a meeting held on dec 28th 1876 in City Hall of the Municipal council chaired by the lord mayor where a recommendation from the committee was made for the names of both Murdering Lane and Cutthroat Lane to be changed. Alderman McSwiney proposed that the names be changed to “Cromwells Quarter” and “Roundhead Row”. When asked on what basis he replied “To preserve historical continuity” to which response there was laughter. The resolution was adopted so the names changed!
That’s brilliant 39 Coats! I knew there had to be a bit of Irish humor in their somewhere, renaming those two spots after England’s finest!
HERE IS THE ANSWER TO THE MATHEMATHICALY PUZZELED
I ASKED MY MOTHER, WHY THE STEPS WHERE CALLED ” THE FORTY STEPS” WHEN THERE WAS ONLY 39 OF THEM.
ANSWER : IF THE FIRST STEP IS YOUR LAST STEP COMMING DOWN THEN TRULY IT MUST BE YOUR FIST STEP GOING UP.
No e in bow bridge ? It’s bow bridge .