Childwall


Childwall is an affluent suburb of Liverpool and a ward of Liverpool City Council. Historically in Lancashire, it is located to the southeast of the city and is bordered by Belle Vale, Bowring Park, Broadgreen, Gateacre, Mossley Hill, and Wavertree. In 2008, the population was recorded as 14,085.

Overview

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 Cileuuelle in the 1086 Domesday Book, meaning "a stream where youngsters meet" from the Old English words cild and wella. Historically, the name has been recorded as Childewalle, Chaldewall, Childwall, Childewelle, Chaldewal, and Childewall.
Childwall was traditionally part of the West Derby Hundred. It was an urban district from the Local Government Act 1894 until Liverpool annexed it in 1913. The suburb's All Saints' Church is the oldest church in Liverpool. Though Childwall still maintains a large Jewish community, this has been in gradual decline since the 1980s, with some of the former Jewish community now living in the nearby suburbs of Allerton and Gateacre.
Childwall is anchored by a large roundabout called the Childwall Fiveways, which is one of the busiest in Liverpool. Since the year 2000, the area immediately surrounding the Fiveways has gradually developed into a hotspot for upmarket bars and restaurants. Housing in Childwall is almost entirely detached or semi-detached, and there are very few terraced houses; its pleasant greenery and range of large houses makes it one of Liverpool's most sought-after suburbs.
The television production company Lime Pictures, formerly Mersey Television, is located on private land in Childwall Woods. The company's most notable productions are Hollyoaks, Brookside, Grange Hill, Geordie Shore, and The Only Way Is Essex. The first three are filmed at Lime Pictures' set in Childwall Woods, while the last two are filmed elsewhere in England.
Childwall's pubs include the Childwall Abbey Hotel, which once played host to the Quarrymen before they became the Beatles; they were later famously managed by Childwall native Brian Epstein. There is also the Halfway House and the Childwall Fiveways Hotel. Since 2009, the Halfway House has been the starting point for Tom Slemen's "Haunted Liverpool Ghost and Murder Tour of Childwall", with all proceeds going to Freshfields Animal Rescue.

Education

Primary schools

The nearest railway station is either Mossley Hill or Broadgreen. Historically, there was also Childwall railway station. Regular bus services connect the district with Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the city centre, as well as surrounding districts.

Notable people

The elected councillors for Childwall are Cllr Liz Parsons of the Labour Party, and Cllr Carole Storey and Cllr Alan Tormey of the Liberal Democrats.