Childwall Woods are shown as 'The Grounds' on 19th century Ordnance Survey maps. They were part of the grounds of Childwall Hall, which stood where the Hollyoaks studios (Lime Pictures) are today. The driveway to the hall, starting from the lodge (now a private house) in Childwall Abbey Rd, followed a circuitous route through the woods - mostly in a rock cutting - before reaching the main building. Such curving driveways were not uncommon, as they magnified the size of the estate in the minds of visitors.

Childwall Hall was built by Bamber Gascoyne in about 1780. He was Lord of the Manor, not only of Childwall but also of Wavertree, Much Woolton and several other places, having inherited these titles - as well as the original Childwall Hall, and other properties - as a result of marrying Isaac Greene's daughter Mary. He commissioned architect John Nash to build him a new house of castellated design, which came to be nicknamed 'Childwall Abbey' (though there is some controversy as to whether this name originated as a reference to the Hall, the pub or the parish church - there never was an Abbey in Childwall).