Also known as the White Mill, this tower mill was built in 1800.

Jon Sass Collection, photograph 1927

This windmill was operated by the Brooks family until it closed in 1953.

Location of mill: SE 780 046

Birthplace of Sir Harold Idris Bell in Church Street.

"Sir Harold Idris Bell CB OBE (2 October 1879 - 22 January 1967) was a museum curator, a British papyrologist (specialising in Roman Egypt) and a scholar of Welsh literature ...

In 1903, he joined the British Museum as an assistant in the Department of Manuscripts and remained there his entire working life, becoming Deputy Keeper of the Department in 1927 and Keeper in 1929 ... 

Bell was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours for his wartime services as editor of the Food Supplement of the Daily Review of the Foreign Press.

He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1936 and was knighted in 1946.

He was president of the International Association of Papyrologists from 1947 to 1955.

He was elected corresponding member of several Continental and American learned societies, and was awarded honorary degrees by the Universities of Wales, Liverpool, Michigan and Brussels.

In 1932 the British Academy elected him a Fellow, and he was President from 1946 to 1950"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idris_Bell 

DB 9 August 2019

Blue plaque at the birthplace of Sir Harold Idris Bell in Church Street, Epworth now Weldricks Pharmacy.

"Birthplace of / SIR HAROLD IDRIS BELL / C.B. O.B.E. / Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum 1929 - 44"

DB 9 August 2019

Joseph Bottomley 1830 - 1909 "was one of the first people to to take up professional photography in Bradford"

Moved to Epworth around 1889 and is buried in Epworth Cemetery.

https://sites.google.com/site/leedsandbradfordstudios/home/joseph-bottomley 

DB 9 August 2019

Blue plaque at the front of the building on High Street :-

"CHESTNUT HOUSE

Home of Joseph Bottomley noted Victorian photographer 1889 - 1909" 

DB 9 August 2019

Alexander Kilham (1762-1798) was born in Epworth, son of a linen weaver, and achieved fame as founder of the Methodist New Connexion.

This branch of the church joined others to form the United Methodist Church in 1907 which in turn became part of the one Methodist Church in 1932.

This chapel in High Street, opposite the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, was built as a memorial to Kilham in 1860. It was converted for use as Epworth's Youth Centre in 1944.

The building is Grade II listed.

October 2016

"Polygonal ashlar tablet with a raised Gothic- lettered inscription: ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF ALEXANDER KILHAM 1860"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1068757 

Inscription now very worn. 

DB 9 August 2019

Plaque at front of building which reads :- 

"KILHAM MEMORIAL CHAPEL 

ERECTED IN 1860 AS A MEMORIAL TO ALEXANDER KILHAM BORN IN EPWORTH ON 10TH JULY 1762 WHO BECAME THE FOUNDER OF THE METHODIST NEW CONNECTION IN 1797 AND WHO DIED IN 1798. THE BUILDING WAS CONVERTED TO A YOUTH CENTRE IN 1944 ( C )."

DB 9 August 2019

The King's Head was located on Church Street. 

White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1856 lists 6 inns & taverns :-

Half Moon, Eliz. Richardson

King's Head, George Hill (and horse letter)

Queen's Head, ( coml.) Cecil Wray

Red Lion Inn, Chas. Limon

Royal Oak, John Everatt

White Bear, James Leggott

Additionally there were also 3 beerhouses. 

DB 9 August 2019

"Court House, now offices and library. 1802-3 for Alexander Johnson, Lord of the Manor. Later C19 rear addition and infilling to ground-floor arcade"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1083279 

Building purchased by the Epworth Mechanics' Institute in 1949 and their library is now housed on the upper floor. 

DB 9 August 2019

"MANOR COURT HOUSE

THIS 1803 BUILDING AND ITS PREDECESSOR ON THE SITE HOUSED THE COURT OF THE LORD OF THE MANOR OF EPWORTH & WESTWOOD. IT WAS BOUGHT BY EPWORTH MECHANICS' INSTITUTE IN 1949.THIS PLAQUE WAS ERECTED IN 1982"

White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1872 states :-

"The manor courts are held twice a-year in the Court House.

Petty Sessions are held on alternate Fridays, at the Police Station, built in 1848; and the magistrates who usually attend are the Hon. and Rev. Chas. Dundas, Rev. F. W. White, and G. S. Lister, R. C. Empson, J. W. D. Hilton, and S. C. Ashlin, Esqrs.

A. Parker, Esq., is their clerk, and Mr. R. Sowden is inspector of Police"

DB 9 August 2019

The Market Cross stands in the Market Place in front of the Mechanics Institute building, part of which is seen here in the extreme right foreground.

John Wesley preached from this spot on more than one occasion. (Presumably it is a Methodist minister who is posing in this photo.

postcard published by Barnes & Breeze of Epworth, 1920s

"Market cross. Medieval origins, reset in 1806 ... Pedestal bears small C20 plaque recording that John Wesley "preached from these steps on many occasions""

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1068802 

DB 9 August 2019

A second view of the Market Place and the medieval cross facing the Red Lion Hotel.

drawing by Tom Brooker, 1970

This is one of three tower mills to the north of the town off the Belton Road.

It was erected in 1783, one of the earliest surviving tower mills in the county.

Jon Sass Collection, photograph c.1908

Maw's Mill is Grade II listed.

Location of mill: SE 777 047

Peter Kirk Collection, 1999

The Old Rectory is John and Charles Wesley's home. It was built in 1709 after the previous building was destroyed by fire.

postcard published by Barnes & Breeze of Epworth, undated

"Rectory, now house and museum. 1709 with later minor alterations; renovations of 1956-7 ... Ceased being rectory in 1954 when it was purchased by the World Methodist Council who undertook restorations"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1068805

"The rectory was home to the Reverend Samuel Wesley, his wife Susanna and their 19 children, one of whom, John Wesley, grew up to become a founder of the Methodist Church"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Rectory,_Epworth

DB 9 August 2019

White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1872 states :-

"The rectory, valued in K.B. at £28 16s. 8d., and now at £691, is in the patronage of the Crown, and incumbency of the Hon. and Rev. Charles Dundas, M.A., J.P., who is also rural dean, and has a good Rectory House, built in lieu of the old residence, burnt down in the year 1709.

At the enclosure, in 1795, the tithes were commuted for a yearly corn rent, which varies every 21 years, according to the average price of wheat.

The glebe is 40 acres; and the church land, 43A. 1R. 3P., is let for £112 per annum"

DB 9 August 2019

"The Epworth Rectory haunting also known as the "Wesley poltergeist" is one of the best-known English poltergeist claims.

From December 1716 until January 1717, it is said to have been plagued by a series of regularly occurring mysterious loud noises and knockings, apparently caused by a ghost the eldest Wesley daughter Hetty nicknamed "Old Jeffrey", who made his presence known to all on Christmas Day 1716.

In Mrs. Wesley's words, "there was such a noise in the room over our heads, as if several people were walking, then running up and down stairs that we thought the children would be frightened".

According to the tale, as she and her husband searched the house in vain for the culprit, Old Jeffrey continued "rattling and thundering in every room, and even blowing an invisible horn at deafening decibels".

"Old Jeffrey" supposedly disappeared in January 1717 just as suddenly as he had appeared"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Rectory,_Epworth 

DB 9 August 2019

Rectory west garden viewed from the "Best Chamber" on the first floor of the house.

DB 9 August 2019

View across the parlour looking towards John Wesley's clock near the corner.

Originally a one handed clock with the makers name "Markmick, London" on the dial.

DB 9 August 2019

The National School on Battle Green was built 1876 and enlarged in 1912 to hold 300 pupils.

It is now a pub/restaurant "The Old School Inn".

September 2010

The inscription on the wall of the former National School, now The Old School Inn.

September 2010

"House, now Post Office.

Probably C17 origins, with C18 and later brick encasing and infilling, mid-late C19 rebuilt south gable with shop front; late C18 - early C19 addition to rear.

Timber framing with mud-and-stud infill (pair of wall posts and mid-rail with small section of original infill visible on west side), largely encased and rebuilt with brick; north extension in brick. Pantile roofs throughout"

"One of the earliest surviving vernacular buildings in the Isle of Axholme"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1068747 

DB 9 August 2019

Letter box in the side of "one of the earliest surviving vernacular buildings in the Isle of Axholme".

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1068747 

Was this the building referred to in White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1872 which states :-

"The POST and MONEY ORDER OFFICE, and TELEGRAPH STATION, are at Mr. Thomas Hawksley Capes', at which the Savings' Bank Annuity and Insurance business is transacted during the usual hours.

Letters are received at 8.45 a.m., and despatched at 5.10 p.m., via Bawtry"?

DB 9 August 2019

Station lamp preserved in the Doncaster Grammar School collection of railwayana.

The collection was started by pupils and teachers at Doncaster Grammar School in the 1930s and is now housed, at the top of a clock tower, in what was intended to be a water tank.

The station closed in 1933.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axholme_Joint_Railway 

DB 25 September 2019 

"Mid C18 with later alterations, including widening and resetting openings, stuccoeing to main range; later C18 - C19 ranges to right"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346701 

DB 9 August 2019

Detail of signboard outside the Red Lion Inn.

DB 9 August 2019

Much of St Andrew's is Perpendicular, but the chancel is Decorated and the arcades Early English.

On the S side of the chancel is the box grave of Samuel Wesley, who was rector here for 39 years until his death in 1735.

Here, his son John Wesley, on a visit to his birthplace in 1742, stood on his father's grave to preach to the townspeople.

Ken Redmore, 2010

The north and south aisles of the church and the tower are from the Perpendicular period.

Embattled chapels embrace the tower.

August 2015

The chancel (in the foreground) has three-light windows with reticulated tracery of the Decorated period.

By contrast the adjacent south aisle is Perpendicular in style.

August 2015

The chancel was built in the Decorated period, i.e. early fourteenth century.

August 2015

The tower of St Andrew's church has an ashlar face.

Heavy brick buttresses either side of the south porch have been necessary to stabilise the building.

August 2015

St Andrew's at Epworth stands on high ground overlooking the town centre from the north.

The west tower is ashlar faced and built in Perpendicular style.

August 2015

The north side of St Andrew's with Perpendicular embattlement.

The north porch has a subcusped entrance arch dating from c.1300.

October 2016

"Early C14 chancel. Chancel partly destroyed in 1642, side chapels demolished and chancel partly rebuilt in 1670s"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1068692 

DB 9 August 2019

The small shield shaped sign reads "The altar and reredos were provided by public subscription in memory of those from Epworth who died in the two World Wars.

The former ancient altar table is now in the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church".

White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1872 states :-

"Amongst the communion plate, the alms-bowl is a curious piece of antiquity, formed of maple with a broad rim of silver gilt, ten inches in diameter, and a large silver button at the bottom, ornamented with a St. Andrew's cross, and the figures of the Holy Family, surrounded by a moulding, ornamented with rays of glory.

It is supposed to have been originally a wassail bowl, presented to the church by one of the Mowbrays"

DB 9 August 2019

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"The stained east window was inserted in 1878 as a memorial of the 35th year of the incumbency of the Hon. and Rev. Charles Dundas M.A. rector 1843-83"

DB 9 August 2019

"Restorations of 1868 by James Fowler of Louth included new organ chamber ... C19 opening to organ chamber with pointed double-chamfered arch dying into responds"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1068692 

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states "a new organ and choir stalls were placed in the chancel in 1890"

A plaque states that the organ was restored in 1952. 

DB 9 August 2019

First World War Roll of Honour with flags of the Allies at the top.

DB 9 August 2019

Decorative chairs in northeast corner of the sanctuary.

DB 9 August 2019

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN UNDYING MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH (WHOSE NAMES ARE INSCRIBED BELOW) WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918"

DB 9 August 2019

Second World War memorial "IN GRATEFUL MEMORY".

DB 9 August 2019

Memorial to "CHARLES DUNDAS, M.A., FOURTH SON OF THE 2ND VISCOUNT MELVILLE, RECTOR OF EPWORTH 39 YEARS"

Immediately below the chancel east window. Stained glass was inserted in 1878 as a memorial to the 35th year of his incumbency.

DB 9 August 2019

The tomb of Samuel Wesley, John Wesley's father and former rector of Epworth, is in the churchyard close to the sough-east corner of the nave.

John famously stood on the grave to preach when he was refused permission to hold his service inside St Andrew's.

postcard by Bramley of Leeds, undated

Looking east towards the chancel.

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"The church of St. Andrew, situated on an eminence, is a building of stone, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave of three bays, aisles, north and south porches, and a fine embattled western tower with pinnacles, containing a clock and 6 bells:

the entrance to the rood loft remains and portions of the screen may be seen in the reading-desk ; some ancient stones in the north porch display the badge of Richard II. and the arms of Mowbray. Dukes of Norfolk, "Gules, a lion rampant, arg.":

the approach to the church is by a broad flagged causeway, flanked on each side by a row of trees:

the stained east window was inserted in 1878 as a memorial of the 35th year of the incumbency of the Hon. and Rev. Charles Dundas M.A. rector 1843-83; other windows in the chancel, aisles and the west end are also stained, including a window to the late Arthur Maw esq. and one to the late William Laughton and family:

in 1863 the aisles were new-roofed, the fittings renewed and the interior reseated, and the west gallery removed:

a new organ and choir stalls were placed in the chancel in 1890:

the church plate includes a mazer bowl of late 15th century work:

there are 353 sittings"

DB 9 August 2019

The south arcade has octagonal piers and double chamfered arches.

October 2016

The font in St Andrew's is from the Decorated period. It is a plain octagonal bowl with panelled sides.

October 2016

"Late C13 - early C14 octagonal font has bowl with plain panelled sides, moulded underside and short shaft"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1068692 

DB 9 August 2019

Pulpit in northeast corner of nave.

DB 9 August 2019

A crudely carved - and heavily weathered - grotesque by the north porch entrance.

August 2015

A crudely carved - and heavily weathered - grotesque by the north porch entrance.

August 2015

"Pointed double-chamfered outer arch with inner order on chamfered shafts with moulded capitals; string course, coped embattled parapet with central merlon bearing worn inscription with names of church wardens, dated 1817"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1068692 

DB 9 August 2019

White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1872 has an entry "A Temperance Hall, in which is held the Mechanics' Institute, reading room and library, containing upwards of 2000 volumes, was erected in High street in 1868, at an outlay of £350. Mr. Smith Fielding is secretary to the Mechanics' Institute, and Mr. John Robert Pearson to the Temperance Society"

The Epworth Temperance Hall Fund was registered as a charity on 30 Nov 1962. It was removed from the register on 12 Jan 2000 as its funds were spent up.

https://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=213742&subid=0 

DB 9 August 2019

Blue plaque on front of building.

"MEETING HALL 

for the Epworth Temperance Movement and Band of Hope 1868 - 1948"

DB 9 August 2019

This four-storeyed mill was built in the early nineteenth century and continued to work by wind power until 1944 (latterly with only two sails).

Jon Sass Collection, undated photograph

The Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in Epworth was opened in 1889.

It is a Grade II listed building.

Postcard, 1933

This impressive building was built in 1889 by Charles Bell* on a spacious site along with school rooms, a manse and a caretaker's house.

This is the north front and main entrance to the church.

October 2016

* Charles Bell ARIBA (1846-1899) was born and educated in Grantham. His architectural practice was in London and he built more than 60 Methodist chapels.

This view from the north-east shows the church, school room (background) and manse (foreground, left) built in 1889.

postcard published by Barnes & Breeze of Epworth, undated

View of the communion area and the window commemorating the Wesley brothers.

postcard published by Barnes & Breeze of Epworth, undated

This plaque commemorating the building of the church is in the main vestibule. Stones with names of individuals line the vestibule.

October 2016

This stained glass window is in the south wall above the communion area.

It depicts Jesus and his disciples. In the roundel above the main light are the heads of John and Charles Wesley with the well known words of John: "The best of all, God is with us".

October 2016

The blue plaque reads :-

"EPWORTH MAGNA CARTA 800 SOCIETY

THE 12TH CENTURY MANOR HOUSE OF WILLIAM DE MOWBRAY (1173-1224) STOOD HERE ON THE VINEGARTH ESTATE HE WAS ONE OF THE 25 BARONS ENTRUSTED WITH THE ENFORCEMENT  OF THE TERMS OF MAGNA CARTA"

He was described as being as small as a dwarf but very generous and valiant.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_de_Mowbray 

DB 9 August 2019