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"......that there was one priest there, holding one carucate of land (about 50 acres). This, however, was not for his own use but for the poor of the parish, extending to the Mersey from Garston, to past Hale.
​Childwall then became attached to the Priory of Lancaster which Roger founded as the cell of the Abbey. Patronage passed to the Grelleys, Barons of Manchester, during the 13th Century, and a member of that family Herbert Grelley was Rector in 1260. Nearly 50 years later in 1309, Sir Roger de Holland presented Childwall to the college of Secular Cannons at Upholland....."
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The district of Childwall, Liverpool has a rich history. The earliest recorded reference to Childwall was in the Domesday Book of 1086: "Four Radmans held Childwall as four Manors. There is half a hide. It was worth eight shillings. There was a priest, having half a carucate of land in frank almoign."
Childwall was known as Cildeuuelle in the Domesday Book, meaning "a stream where youngsters meet" from the Old English words cild and wella. Historically, the name has been recorded as Childewalle (1212 and 1332), Chaldewall (1238), Childwall (1261), Childewelle (1291), Chaldewal (1305), and Childewall (1354). ​​
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In 1094 Count Roger Poges of Poitou granted the patronage of Kydewell to the Abbey of St Martin at Sees in Normandy. Childwall then became attached to the Priory of Lancaster which Roger founded as the cell of the Abbey. Patronage passed to the Grelleys, Barons of Manchester, during the 13th Century, and a member of that family Herbert Grelley was Rector in 1260. Nearly 50 years later in 1309, Sir Roger de Holland presented Childwall to the college of Secular Cannons at Upholland. The gift was not appreciated, for the Seculars discovered that Childwall was a wilderness more suitable for contemplative monks and they gave the place to the Benedictines. The Benedictines kept Childwall until the dissolution of the monasteries when it came under the jurisdiction of the See of Chester. It later became invested, in 1880, to the See of Liverpool.
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There is a fantastic history in relation to the area. Childwall Hall, Childwall House, Childwall Abbey Pub, All Saints Church, Childwall Woods, the Childwall Cross. Each subject has its own history and completes the write up on the historical aspect of the area. Childwall was once served by a Railway Station, a stop on the former North Liverpool Extension Line, and trams used to serve the area well. Even when Childwall was sometimes listed as ‘rural Childwall’ from the start of the 1900’s, there are still large parts of the area which have rolling fields, woods and fields that have escaped being built on.
Reviewing the 1860’s map above left compared to with the modern map on the right, shows the change from ‘rural Childwall’ to a well-developed district.
But perhaps we can go back to the map on the left and understand at a glance of what shaped Childwall. Parts of All Saints Church can be traced back at least the 14th century, the Childwall Abbey from the 15th century (depending on which source of information you take), the first Childwall Hall and the second Childwall Hall (dated 1813), but we also have to consider the ‘Childwall Tower’ that it was said that people watch the 1600’s ‘Childwall Riots’ from.
We have the ancient Childwall Cross and perhaps even earlier, we have the ‘Monk’s Bath’ that is now covered up on Barnham Drive. It was said that during excavation work for new houses on Score Lane that a cannonball was dug up!
The History of Childwall website has been written by Jonathon Wild.
Born and raised in Childwall from the late 1970’s onwards, I have been privileged to remember the slightly more rural Childwall than we see today. I was schooled in Childwall C of E when we had the large open fields either side of the school on Woolton Road.
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From an early age I was enrolled in the 35th Boys Brigade and have fond memories of playing on the Cricket field on Childwall Abbey Road opposite the former Vicarage. I can remember the large section of land at the rear of the former Vicarage where we all played football and had the occasional bonfire celebration.​
Across from the Church, I can remember the layout of the former Childwall Stable block and the access from the back of the stable block up to the rear of the cricket field. We had the Childwall Valley High School with the large field at the rear (now a housing estate where I lived for a number of years) and in recent memory, the demolition of the Childwall Methodist Church on the corner of Score lane.
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Perhaps the beauty about Childwall is that the ‘village’ has not changed. Taking a picture of the classic view of the Childwall Abbey and Church, you would need a keen eye to spot the date of an image even from 50 years ago, with little having changed.
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From around the age of 10 onwards, I was a church bellringer at All Saints Church and became Steeple Keeper for several years. A rare treat was go to up to the top of the Church tower and have a rare view of the rolling hillside to see what had changed over the years. I was also a member of the Church Choir when the late Alan Thwaite was in charge and spent many an evening at choir practice at the front of the Church.
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My family came to Childwall in 1936 with my grandparents living at Dominic Close and again I am fortunate that they also kept excellent archives and photographs. Again, I can call on Dad’s old friends who were all bellringers for additional information on the area! It is perhaps that combined with the above opportunities, my family have also kept a very good archive of random images from the area. My late dad, Peter Wild, was a keen photographer and thankfully recorded some very good images from his 35mm collection of which I have scanned in over the years.
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However, I wish I could have seen Childwall from my parent’s eyes when everything ‘under Childwall Valley Road bridge’ was fields. The bluebell woods that disappeared, Jackson’s Farm and of course Jackson’s Pond, all gone for the expansion of Childwall.
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I hope that this website provides a snapshot of Childwall and that people young and old can learn a little more history on this ancient district.
In the creation of this website, I have been given many images, stories, information and even physical items. I have had the pleasure of being at the 'highest' point in Childwall at the top of the tower, and the 'lowest' point on a guided tour around the Childwall Abbey cellar, and have been assisted by a great deal of good people who have helped shape this website. A large thank you to those who have assisted me!
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Special thanks must go to Mike Dodd, Dave Fellows, Phil and Ian Dale. Personal thanks to Dave Lee for throwing the doors open at the Childwall Abbey, and Pat O Neill who sourced me an actual stained glass window from the now demolished Methodist Church.
Jonathon Wild, Proprietor, Braygreen.
You can reach contact me for anything related to the History of Childwall or to join The History of Childwall Facebook group by clicking on the portfolio on the right.
I can be contacted via www.braygreen.co.uk or directly via 07817106128
