From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the English parish and town. For other uses, see Epworth (disambiguation).

Coordinates: 53°31′00″N 0°49′00″W / 53.5167°N 0.8167°W / 53.5167; -0.8167

Epworth
Epworth  Epworth shown within Lincolnshire
Population	3,734 (Parish)
OS grid reference	SE7803
Unitary authority	North Lincolnshire
Ceremonial county	Lincolnshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DONCASTER
Postcode district	DN9
Dialling code	01427
Police	Humberside
Fire	Humberside
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
List of places: UK • England • Lincolnshire

Epworth is a small town and civil parish in the Isle of Axholme, North Lincolnshire, England. As the birthplace of John Wesley and Charles Wesley, it has given its name to many institutions associated with Methodism. Their father, Samuel Wesley, was the rector from 1695 to 1735.

Description

Epworth lies on the A161 road, roughly halfway between Goole and Gainsborough. The Isle of Axholme Joint Railway served Epworth: it is now closed altogether. Epworth, is located in the Isle of Axholme. The Isle is so called because until it was drained by the Dutch engineer Sir Cornelius Vermuyden (1627-1629), it was an inland island surrounded by rivers. A grant of the commons to the freeholders and other tenants, made by deed 1360 by John de Mowbray, Lord of the Manor, gave many privileges and freedoms which were long cherished and protected. The deed caused repercussions in the reign of King Charles I when Vermuyden was given the task of draining the isle. His work was an outstanding piece of irrigation engineering.

There has been extensive drainage since that time which, together with periodic "warping" (intentional flooding to deposit silt and enrich the land), has made this an exceptionally fertile area, and Epworth shares in this productivity.

The Isle of Axholme was originally the eight parishes of Althorpe, Belton, Crowle, Epworth, Haxey, Luddington, Owston and Wroot.^[1]

Historical buildings

Saint Andrew's Parish Church

Tower of St Andrew's Church

The Old Rectory, a fine Queen Anne style building, rebuilt after the famous fire of 1709, has been completely restored and is now the property of the World Methodist Council. It is maintained as a museum. It is also known for the paranormal incidents that occurred there in 1716, while the Wesley family was living in the house.^[2]

Epworth's parish church is dedicated to Saint Andrew, located on a hill overlooking the town. Its architecture suggests that its oldest part may have been built in the late 12th century with later additions in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is probable that a church stood on the site earlier than that.

An example of the Dutch influence on local architecture can be seen in the building now used as the Post Office, situated in the High Street.

Epworth Show

The Epworth Show has been part of Epworth's Calendar for over 60 years. The Show takes place on August Bank Holiday Monday, but the Show Committee organise Four Saddle Club events between May and September as well as a Beer Festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Festival of the plough

Epworth has hosted the Epworth Festival of the Plough agricultural fare in recent years.

Famous residents

Beside the Wesley Brothers, another famous ex resident is Benjamin Huntsman born in 1704 the founder of steel making by the Huntsman process, who moved to Sheffield.^[3]

The television actress Sheridan Smith was born in Epworth in 1981.

References

External links

• The Parishes of the Isle of Axholme: Epworth
• Epworth Show
• Epworth Info page
• Epworth Bells - news and information