Epworth
Market Cross & Mechanics Institute Library
Market Place & red Lion HOtel
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Epworth Photo Album
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Epworth Town Council
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Chairman of Epworth Town Council's badge of office
St Andrews Church
After the conquest, the Manor of Epworth was given to Geoffrey de Wirce. In the reign of Henry I, the Manor was given to Nigel d'Albini, bow-bearer to William Rufus. Nigel's son Roger, took the name of Mowbray, which was to be the name of the Lords of the Manor during the medieval period. Much of the character of Epworth, with its strip farming in open fields, is a legacy of history. A grant of the Commons to the freeholders and other tenants made by deed of 1360 by John de Mowbray, Lord of the Manor. The Deed was to cause repercussions in the reign of Charles I when Sir Cornelius Vermuyden a Dutch engineer was given the task of draining the Isle. Vermuyden's work was an outstanding piece of irrigation engineering. There has been extensive drainage since that time which together with warping has made this an exceptionally fertile area and Epworth shares in this productivity. An example of Dutch influence on local architecture can be seen in the building now used as the Post Office, situated in Epworth High Street. There is a Baptist Church in Epworth, the Baptists having a connection with Epworth as far back to at least 1673.
Epworth, now the shopping centre of the southern part of the Isle of Axholme, has always been claimed by its inhabitants to be the capital of the Isle. It is known throughout the World as the birthplace of John and Charles Wesley, the founders of Methodism. The Old Rectory, a fine Queen Anne style building, rebuilt after a fire in 1709, has been completely restored and is now the property of the World Methodist Council. The Wesley Memorial Church, situated in the High Street, as erected in 1889, at a cost of £6500
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Wesley Memorial Church
John Wesley Statue
Also situated in High Street, almost opposite the Wesley Memorial Church is the building, now used as a Youth Centre, previously the Methodist New Connexion or Kilham Memorial Chapel. Alexander Kilham was born in Epworth in 1762 and the entry of his baptism appears in the Epworth Church Register. He was the son of Simon Kilham a linen weaver of Epworth. He became a forceful writer and speaker and his main theme was in favour of greater lay representation in the government of the Church. His views were repudiated and he himself was tried and expelled by the Wesleyan Conference of 1796. In 1797 the Methodist New Connexion was founded with himself as secretary.
There was a school in Epworth as early as 1711 and in 1856 a Free School was set up with endowments. The current Primary School replaced both the old County Primary School and the Church of England Primary School. The old County Primary School was converted to pub and the Church of England Primary School buildings are now used as St. Andrew's Church Centre. The South Axholme Secondary School, opened in 1961 and situated on Burnham Road, serves pupils aged 11 to 16 years from Epworth and the southern part of the Isle, next to the school is a leisure centre, and swimming pool. Epworth has one of two Mechanics' Institutes in England still functioning for their original purpose and this holds a library. It is housed in a building erected in the Market Place in 1803. Also in the Market Place stands the Market Cross, from the steps of which John Wesley is said to have preached. The Market Place and adjacent areas have now been designated a 'conservation area'.