Childwall District

[Kev]

The earliest reference to Childwall is to be found in the Doomsday Book, which was compiled by William I in 1086 .

Childwall Abbey

This building is very old and probably sits on the site of an even older pub. It used to contain a collection of autographs including Queen Victoria, King of Hanover and The Duke of Wellington. It has been a tradition over the years for newly wed couples to inscribe their names in the windows of Childwall Abbey.

It is also said to be haunted with many strories of ghost sitings. The old photograph below was taken and later was found to contain a figure in the (middle) window that was said to have been a ghost.

http://static.flickr.com/115/257230302_7d2ef9dad2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257230302/)

http://static.flickr.com/90/257230676_d2858691fb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257230676/)

http://static.flickr.com/117/257231914_c940c1b2f7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257231914/)

http://static.flickr.com/113/257230843_0325aefbf0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257230843/)

http://static.flickr.com/98/257230935_299c15fe26.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257230935/)

http://static.flickr.com/106/257231079_c52cf9bfaf.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257231079/)

http://static.flickr.com/88/257231212_b30522266d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257231212/)

http://static.flickr.com/98/257231997_f8481589f9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257231997/)

http://static.flickr.com/88/257231744_77144cd2de.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257231744/)

http://static.flickr.com/83/257231330_efaf61a45b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257231330/)

http://static.flickr.com/104/257231549_376baaa5b6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/257231549/)
Many thanks to Bri and Beryl for alowing me in, very hospitable:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[Max]

I got the Childwall fiveways.:Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/70933834@N00/sets/72157594237227754/

[bazz]

hello guys i used to work at the childwall abbey amongst other members of my family

theres a few other bits to include which are bit strange to say the least by the window where the newley weds inscribe there new marriage there is a seat which is suppose to make women fall pregnant the fertility chair they call it.

also a few years back used to be a lad who worked in the kitchen think his name was dave he had learning difficulties. he used to sit and look out of the back window for hours on end staring at what is (i believe) the oldest bowling green in the city .one day when asked what he was looking at he went on to describe how he could see several people in victorian type dress playing bowls. I dont think he had it in him to make something like this up.

theres my tuppence worth on that anyway lol


regards bazz

p.s my sister was the assistant manager there for a while and had the run of the lodgings upstairs so i was lucky enough to have had a good look around the building including the old part which now unfortunatley has been converted to make way for guest rooms

[theninesisters]

hello guys i used to work at the childwall abbey amongst other members of my family

theres a few other bits to include which are bit strange to say the least by the window where the newley weds inscribe there new marriage there is a seat which is suppose to make women fall pregnant the fertility chair they call it.

also a few years back used to be a lad who worked in the kitchen think his name was dave he had learning difficulties. he used to sit and look out of the back window for hours on end staring at what is (i believe) the oldest bowling green in the city .one day when asked what he was looking at he went on to describe how he could see several people in victorian type dress playing bowls. I dont think he had it in him to make something like this up.

theres my tuppence worth on that anyway lol


regards bazz

p.s my sister was the assistant manager there for a while and had the run of the lodgings upstairs so i was lucky enough to have had a good look around the building including the old part which now unfortunatley has been converted to make way for guest rooms

That's the oldest picture I've got of a family member on the Bowling Green - 1954!

[Max]

Where can I get to the Abbey and All Saints from the Fiveways route?

[theninesisters]

Where can I get to the Abbey and All Saints from the Fiveways route?

Go up Childwall Priory Road - (barclays on your left, pub on your right) - up the hill till you get parallel with the shops. There is a large 'bear left' junction (With no bears) which is opposite Abbey Cycles. THis is Childwall Abbey Road. Now you have plenty of choices. That road leads down to the Abbey (use ya brakes Max) - but access to the woods can be done by either the black gates behind the castle type house (the gate lodge) or further down there's a gate in the wall (not the iron one).

Have fun!

[Max]

My brakes are knacked!

The front one needs one knew pad and the back one just won't work for some reason when I fix the back one.:PDT_Xtremez_42:

I put my footdown alot and Is crazy when your going downhill fast!:eek:

[theninesisters]

Had a really interesting night last night. As my strange bellringing hobby keeps me insane, people in charge of church towers are called Tower Captain's. The Tower Captain of Childwall in the 1960's, a chap called Mike Dodd has always kept in touch with our family and he came up to Liverpool last night for a meal out.

It's always good to speak to someone who knows the area and can tell you things about it that you never knew.

He gave an amazing account of the Fiveways roundabout with the tram terminus stopping at the end of Childwall Road by the Library.

Told me about the 'newer' houses on the corner of Bowland/Bentham Drive that were taken out with a bomb in WW2 and had to be totally rebuilt and just across the road from where I live now, the massive spotlight and guns situated in the patch of land below.

1757

Find someone who knew your area and you will be amazed at what people can remember! :)

[Ste Birmingham]

That patch of land (the sink) was always boggy compared to the rest of the field.

Childwall Fiveways (http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=conMediaFile.13532)

[Max]

I did pics of the fiveways once but they were cameraphone pics so I deleted them.

Oh yeah, Abbey pics uploaded to my Flickr.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxmolyneux/sets/72157600013045886/

[theninesisters]

I did pics of the fiveways once but they were cameraphone pics so I deleted them.

Oh yeah, Abbey pics uploaded to my Flickr.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxmolyneux/sets/72157600013045886/

Cracking pics sir but you missed out on one thing...the lytchgate to the right of the one you took is the original one from the 1700's :)

[theninesisters]

That patch of land (the sink) was always boggy compared to the rest of the field.

Childwall Fiveways (http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=conMediaFile.13532)

Aye, that was the site of the old bath that was once there - plus you have the underground stream from Jackson's Pond which goes through that field and leaks out just by the Bridge. (which they were told not to build!)

[Max]

Cracking pics sir but you missed out on one thing...the lytchgate to the right of the one you took is the original one from the 1700's :)

Is that In the Garden where theirs all the tables and chairs?

[theninesisters]

Is that In the Garden where theirs all the tables and chairs?

Nope - the white gate that you took the photo of leading in to the graveyard - there are three in total. That one that you took opposite the stone arch, the one opposite the pub - but further around there's another lytchgate - that's the original one.

[Max]

I've taken pics of the White Gate and the Stone Arch.

Oh yeah I think I took one of the other white gate but It twas took dark and my memory card was messing around with errors.

I'll be going back on the next sunny day, I have to go to town soon so not today.:(

[theninesisters]

My afternoon was spent up the Church tower at Childwall giving everything the once over.

1924

[Gnomie]

Hi Jona

I went up there years back, would love to go again. is it ever open to the public.

[theninesisters]

Hi Jona

I went up there years back, would love to go again. is it ever open to the public.


Aye, every year it's open for 2 days on the Heritage Weekend in September! I'll give you a guided tour sir!

[Gnomie]

Right i will take you up on that Jona.

I would love to go back and explore there. used to go there as a kid, behaved of course and respected everything.

i worked in the riding stables. any pics anywhere anyone.

[theninesisters]

Only one I've got!

Source - Book called 'Ye Old Childwall'.

1925

[theninesisters]

Just been out and about to test the new camera, takes some amazing zoom shots!

Went up to the loop line just past the Childwall Valley Road railway bridge:

1 - The Bridge over Childwall Valley Road.

2 - 13x zoom to Childwall Church, made up with this one.

3 - Peeping over the bridge at Childwall Valley Road

4 - Under the same bridge - the white stuff is actually seeping through the walls!

[robbo176]

nice pics Jona:PDT11

[taffy]

Just been out and about to test the new camera, takes some amazing zoom shots!

Went up to the loop line just past the Childwall Valley Road railway bridge:

1 - The Bridge over Childwall Valley Road.

2 - 13x zoom to Childwall Church, made up with this one.

3 - Peeping over the bridge at Childwall Valley Road

4 - Under the same bridge - the white stuff is actually seeping through the walls!

Liked the photo of All Saints. Not seen one from that angle before.

[Gnomie]

Great pics Jona

I used tp play on that bridge as a kid, brings back memories.:)

[theninesisters]

Cheers chaps!

Aye Gnomie, do you ever remember the guards hut just by the bridge when the trains pass? Mum remembers this well but there is no trace of it now!

I'll be in town next weekend zooming in on everything :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

(edit - buildings only you understand :PDT_Aliboronz_24: )

[theninesisters]

The difference in a camera - this was taken at full zoom, picture two is the actual distance from the loop line to the church taken with my old camera :PDT11

2058

2059

[drone_pilot]

anyone any idea about this image, it's been sitting on my hard drive for ages and this is all the info i have on it, i dont even know where it came from.

An unexploded parachute mine sits in a garden on Score Lane, Childwall. 28 November 1940.

http://www.militaryimages.net/imagehost/images/dronepilot/nunexplodedparachuteminesitsinagardenonscorelanech ildwall.jpg

[theninesisters]

anyone any idea about this image, it's been sitting on my hard drive for ages and this is all the info i have on it, i dont even know where it came from.

An unexploded parachute mine sits in a garden on Score Lane, Childwall. 28 November 1940.

http://www.militaryimages.net/imagehost/images/dronepilot/nunexplodedparachuteminesitsinagardenonscorelanech ildwall.jpg

One of the large bombs that was dug up from someone's front garden. Over the road where I live there's a massive field and these were used for the large guns and searchlights to try and take anything down before it reached the docs. Lots of bombs dropped but only one took out a complete house on the corner of Bowland and Bentham Drive. Fantastic picture!

[theninesisters]

I've put a new page on my Childwall website (finally):

http://childwall.moonfruit.com/closeup

[Max]

My favourite part of Childwall.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

I wish more of Liverpool was Village looking like.

It's partly why I love Woolton and Hale so much.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[Max]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxmolyneux/996616280/

[Cadfael]

Only came across this from the local rag today.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/08/21/man-found-hanging-in-childwall-100252-21578306/

What a troubled chap to do such a thing. :sad:

[Gnomie]

Only came across this from the local rag today.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/08/21/man-found-hanging-in-childwall-100252-21578306/

What a troubled chap to do such a thing. :sad:

Poor guy, that is very sad.

[minerva]

I was very interested about the post of the house that was bombed corner of Bentham drive/Bowland Avenue. I had also heard this somewhere else. Does anyone have any information on this please? Was it Bentham drive side or Bowland Ave side. I could look it up in the archives if anyone knows what year.
thanks

[Cadfael]

I was very interested about the post of the house that was bombed corner of Bentham drive/Bowland Avenue. I had also heard this somewhere else. Does anyone have any information on this please? Was it Bentham drive side or Bowland Ave side. I could look it up in the archives if anyone knows what year.
thanks

Not much to go on really. 1944 it was bombed. The whole house (2 houses joined) went, and you can see the 'newer' house today (which looks exactly like the rest now!) It was the two houses situated on the corner of Bowland/Bentham.

[Cadfael]

The all new Childwall website is now up and running. Redesigned with lots more information and pictures. 50,000 hits, I had to change it!

Usual address at Childwall (http://www.childwall.info)

[birdseye]

Excellent site and easy to use. Many thanks. I go to The Fiveways quite a bit and was in there with my daughters a few weeks ago. I mentioned to them that the pub used to have a men-only bar until the change in legislation in 1976. They don't believe me. Anyone else out there remember this.

[redjed1]

Excellent site and easy to use. Many thanks. I go to The Fiveways quite a bit and was in there with my daughters a few weeks ago. I mentioned to them that the pub used to have a men-only bar until the change in legislation in 1976. They don't believe me. Anyone else out there remember this.

Hi birdseye
I remember that men-only bar - going through front entrance, turn left and go through main bar into a smaller men-only one. Never really went there though.

The room at the back was waitress serve, with bells on the wall to bring the waitress to the table. How times change.

[birdseye]

Yes, that's the one. Can't for the life of me think of why they barred women though. It's not as if they got up to anything there. Just old blokes smoking pipes and playing dominoes. When I was working in town, I used to go into The Cracke for a pint at dinner time and that was men only as well. Wonder if there were any others in Liverpool.
Funny thing was my daughters and their friends thought having men only and women only bars was a good idea and it should have been kept going. I had to point out to them that it was women who campaigned to have the rules changed.

[Ged]

That's why they banned the women, so you couldn't go into the crack, it's a pity they didn't try it at the Grafton. :unibrow:

[Max]

I disapprove of men only bars, women only with exceptions I don't mind.

[redjed1]

Yes, that's the one. Can't for the life of me think of why they barred women though. It's not as if they got up to anything there. Just old blokes smoking pipes and playing dominoes. When I was working in town, I used to go into The Cracke for a pint at dinner time and that was men only as well. Wonder if there were any others in Liverpool.
Funny thing was my daughters and their friends thought having men only and women only bars was a good idea and it should have been kept going. I had to point out to them that it was women who campaigned to have the rules changed.

I think the Black Horse, next to Walton church, had a men-only bar - on the right as you went through the main door. We used to go into the back bar, along with the monks in brown robes (:shock:).

[birdseye]

Yes, you're right. I lived in Walton for a couple of years after getting married and I used to go into the Black Horse with my father in law. The bit you were referring to had a curtain that was pulled across whenever meetings were held there. We always used to go to the public bar through the door next to the church wall. It was like a mortuary in there but they served a cracking pint of Whitbread Trophy bitter.

[Cadfael]

Redesigned the website and added a good few more pictures and information.

www.childwall.info

(plus a 'donate' section under the 'about me' page) :PDT_Piratz_26::PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[Cadfael]

Added a couple of new vid's:

From the top of the tower:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZdYL4eVmZw

And the interior of the church:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2v_LEaQLLg

[hmtmaj]

Very good Cadfael, I like it :PDT11

[pablo42]

Added a couple of new vid's:

From the top of the tower:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZdYL4eVmZw

And the interior of the church:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2v_LEaQLLg

Nice one Cadfael.

[Cadfael]

Now updated with new pics:

http://www.childwall.info/

[ChrisGeorge]

Now updated with new pics:

http://www.childwall.info/

Very fine, Cadfael! :handclap:

Chris

[hmtmaj]

Superb Cadfael :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[Cadfael]

Superb Cadfael :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Just lost half a morning looking at your superb website!!

Here's a picture of St Oswald's from the top of Childwall tower:

11529

[Ged]

One for Cad though you may have it already.

Childwall Cross in 1956. Over the wall and down t'hill to Jackson's pond with pirate adventures on rafts and frog spawn in ya jam jar. From the Liverpool Echo archives.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/6537/childwallcross1956lecho.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/childwallcross1956lecho.jpg/)


.

[RonnieW]

I remember that cross. It was incorporated on the school badge of Gateacre Comprehensive, but on the badge it resembled a Celtic cross.

[wsteve55]

Any pic's of Jackson's pond,Ged? (or chinese lions!:unibrow:)

[ItsaZappathing]

I remember that cross. It was incorporated on the school badge of Gateacre Comprehensive, but on the badge it resembled a Celtic cross.

Does a celtic cross have anything to do with a being Proddy or a catholic?

[ItsaZappathing]

One for Cad though you may have it already.

Childwall Cross in 1956. Over the wall and down t'hill to Jackson's pond with pirate adventures on rafts and frog spawn in ya jam jar. From the Liverpool Echo archives.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/6537/childwallcross1956lecho.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/childwallcross1956lecho.jpg/)


.

Nice one Ged.:PDT11

[Cadfael]

Utterly fantastic Ged! Not seen a copy of this at all. I was convinced that there WAS a seat going around the wall from my early memories but wasn't sure - this proved the fact!

Bit of info about the cross here:

http://www.childwall.info/#/childwall-tour-2/4531950993

[Cadfael]

Any pic's of Jackson's pond,Ged? (or chinese lions!:unibrow:)

Try this:

14192

[wsteve55]

Try this:

14192

Wow,thanks a lot Cad,I've been looking for a pic' like that for ages! Some old guy told me about it,and how he,and his mates made a raft to sail to the island in the middle of it,when he was a kid!We tried finding it,but only found Jackson's pond rd,on a new housing development,so guessed it was long gone!(filled in due to a drowning?) Sadly,the guy concerned has passed on!

[Cadfael]

Wow,thanks a lot Cad,I've been looking for a pic' like that for ages! Some old guy told me about it,and how he,and his mates made a raft to sail to the island in the middle of it,when he was a kid!We tried finding it,but only found Jackson's pond rd,on a new housing development,so guessed it was long gone!(filled in due to a drowning?) Sadly,the guy concerned has passed on!


Aye me mum and her sister and two brothers (Challinor surname) used to play in and around that area when they were kids. It's now just a field which is still boggy in the middle.

Another pic here:

14194

[RonnieW]

Does a celtic cross have anything to do with a being Proddy or a catholic?

That's a bit complicated mate. I've read the Celtic cross was originally based on the pre-Christian Sun Wheel and was incorporated into the RC Church by early missionaries arriving in the British Isles. Some C of E churches have a cross and others don't and some C of E people wear a cross and others don't. Most non-conformists don't have crosses.
Gateacre was a state school, so I would think the cross appeared on the badge just because it was a local land mark and not because of any denominational significance. The badge also had two doves, one on either side of the cross, which represented a dovecote. I wouldn't know where any dovecotes might have been around that area though.

[wsteve55]

Aye me mum and her sister and two brothers (Challinor surname) used to play in and around that area when they were kids. It's now just a field which is still boggy in the middle.

Another pic here:

14194

Bernie Cass,was the old guy's name,probably a bit before your time! It's amazing how quickly these things are forgotten, like the lake/pond by Picton clock!

[ItsaZappathing]

That's a bit complicated mate. I've read the Celtic cross was originally based on the pre-Christian Sun Wheel and was incorporated into the RC Church by early missionaries arriving in the British Isles. Some C of E churches have a cross and others don't and some C of E people wear a cross and others don't. Most non-conformists don't have crosses.
Gateacre was a state school, so I would think the cross appeared on the badge just because it was a local land mark and not because of any denominational significance. The badge also had two doves, one on either side of the cross, which represented a dovecote. I wouldn't know where any dovecotes might have been around that area though.
Thanx for the explanation. Much appreciated.:PDT11