Childwall / Chaldewal / Chaldewall / Childewalle / Childewelle / Childwall / Cildevelle / Cildeuuelle

There is an entry for Childwall [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [www.domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SJ4289/childwall/] [accessed 25 June 2014], and it mentions a priest and churchlands in it, but not explicitly a church building (although there may have been one). The present font here is noted in the Victoria County History (Lancashire, vol. 3, 1907): "The font, of red sandstone, is ancient, but completely rechiselled, and appears to have been altered from an octagon to a round. [...] A few twelfth-century stones have been found in the course of repairs, but nothing in the building appears to be older than the fourteenth century." There is no mention of any font in Pevsner's (1969) or in Pollard & Pevsner (2006) entry for Childwall. The wooden carving used as cover for the font since the early 20th century includes the eagle and child theme that appears to be related to the Stanley family since the 14th century. A font is illustrated in the Parish web site [www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk/nggallery/page-8/album-1/gallery-5/page-2/] [accessed 6 October 2010]: a small octagonal basin raised on a circular pedestal base with moulded lower base, round-to-square; on a narrow octagonal plinth; looks modern and does not match the description in the VCH. [NB: we have no other information on the medieval font]. In reply to an enquiry from BSI, N. Thomas, of Records All Saints Childwall, informed: "Earliest reference: From a list of names claiming “Pews, Seats and Formes” 17th June 1609: “15. Thomas Orme of Lee claimed two parts of one next beneath the font”. In 1662 a font was made by masons at a charge of £1. 8s, and lead for the Font stone cost half a guinea. The 1662 font was replaced by an 1853 font. The edition of Sir Gwynne’s “Notes on Childwall” says it appears to have been octagonal and to have been re chiselled to its present form”. In 1892 the 1662 Font was found in the garden of the Childwall Abbey Hotel and was returned to the church. The 1892 Font was removed; presumed given to another church. In 1980 a new Font was given to replace the 1662 that had fallen and broke beyond repair in 1977 leaving base in place. To facilitate the initiation of Baptism to be carried out towards the East, and more public viewing a wooden Font with stainless steel bowl was purchased around the same time as the 1662 Font broke. The wooden carving of the eagle and child, its origin is as yet unknown." (e-mail received 12 October 2010).