Viewing Childwall Abbey through the ages.
It has been on the corner of Childwall Abbey Road since the 15th Century!
It has been on the corner of Childwall Abbey Road since the 15th Century!
From left to right: Entrance Hall, Coffee Room, Smoking Room (only the Smoking Room is recognisable today!) The Cellar.
"The Childwall Abbey Inn has been known by this name for at least a Century. After delving in to many records and documents, I have
come to the conclusion that it is really a renovated Chapel, probably the Chapel of St Thomas the Martyr. which is known as far back as 1484.
It must not be forgotten that a Monastery Chapel often flourished side-by-side with the parish church. Only a portion of the old wall remains, nevertheless it sufficiant to suggest the great antiquity of the place.
Childwall Abbey is a quait mixture of the fifteenth century and the twentieth century. Pass by the old motor cars and in to the courtyard and pass through the low entrance in to the entrance hall and it seems an easy transition from the days of George V to the day when Harry VII, the first Tudor King of England was crowned by an owner of Childwall.
come to the conclusion that it is really a renovated Chapel, probably the Chapel of St Thomas the Martyr. which is known as far back as 1484.
It must not be forgotten that a Monastery Chapel often flourished side-by-side with the parish church. Only a portion of the old wall remains, nevertheless it sufficiant to suggest the great antiquity of the place.
Childwall Abbey is a quait mixture of the fifteenth century and the twentieth century. Pass by the old motor cars and in to the courtyard and pass through the low entrance in to the entrance hall and it seems an easy transition from the days of George V to the day when Harry VII, the first Tudor King of England was crowned by an owner of Childwall.
Viewing the Bowling Green at the rear of the pub. My Grandfather is the fifth from right on the back row (3rd picture).
The splendid old oak furniture, the old spinning wheels, the old engravings, paintings and armour with which the hall is decorated, captivates the imagination at once and when the eye lights on the wonderful old window at the head of the beautiful stairway, it does not need to be an antiquary to conjure before one's eyes pictures of long-vanished monks, Lords and Knights who have been sheltered within the Abbey walls.
On every side breathes the spirit of old romance, and once the spectator knows the great and stirring history of the land of Childwall, the Abbey becomes invested with a new charm than even its exquisite beauty could not give.
The Inn has always been a favourite stopping place of distinguished actors who have been staying in Liverpool, and many have scratched their names on the old windows of the beautiful room which faces the church. Among the many well-known theatrical names to be found are those of Henry Irving, Ellen Terry, E.J. Willard, Ruth Vincent and J.M. Barrie. Irving was fond of smoking a cigar in the old room facing the garden and Ellen Terry was never so happy as when she was roaming through the beautiful old gardens with its bowling green, on which, if tradition is to be believed, bowls have been played long before the days of Drake and Raleigh. Irving was greatly interested in the many quaint epitaphs which are to be found in the Churchyard, especially this curious epitaph - "Sacred to the memory of John Jones, who departed this life in his 95th year, June 1st, 1517. My sledge and hammer both decline, my bellows they have lost their wind, my fire is extinct, my forge decayed, and the dust in my vice is laid. My coals are spent, my iron is gone, my nails are driven, my work is done".
Irving was deeply interested in the beautiful old furniture of the Inn, especially the old panels taken from the original Church and the wonderful collection of autographs presented to Mrs Rimmer, the former pro-prietress of the Childwall Abbey Inn, by late friends of the Marquess of Salisbury. "
On every side breathes the spirit of old romance, and once the spectator knows the great and stirring history of the land of Childwall, the Abbey becomes invested with a new charm than even its exquisite beauty could not give.
The Inn has always been a favourite stopping place of distinguished actors who have been staying in Liverpool, and many have scratched their names on the old windows of the beautiful room which faces the church. Among the many well-known theatrical names to be found are those of Henry Irving, Ellen Terry, E.J. Willard, Ruth Vincent and J.M. Barrie. Irving was fond of smoking a cigar in the old room facing the garden and Ellen Terry was never so happy as when she was roaming through the beautiful old gardens with its bowling green, on which, if tradition is to be believed, bowls have been played long before the days of Drake and Raleigh. Irving was greatly interested in the many quaint epitaphs which are to be found in the Churchyard, especially this curious epitaph - "Sacred to the memory of John Jones, who departed this life in his 95th year, June 1st, 1517. My sledge and hammer both decline, my bellows they have lost their wind, my fire is extinct, my forge decayed, and the dust in my vice is laid. My coals are spent, my iron is gone, my nails are driven, my work is done".
Irving was deeply interested in the beautiful old furniture of the Inn, especially the old panels taken from the original Church and the wonderful collection of autographs presented to Mrs Rimmer, the former pro-prietress of the Childwall Abbey Inn, by late friends of the Marquess of Salisbury. "
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The History of Childwall
- STOP PRESS - SAVE CHILDWALL CHURCH GRAVEYARD
