In celebration of Takeover Day 2026, (20.11.26), when museums, galleries, historic homes, archives and heritage sites invite young people to take over jobs normally done by adults, we have invited young people from our local communities who learn at home to become our curators and create their own exhibitions of some of our previously unseen objects.
Since Takeover Day began in 2010, over 40,000 children and young people have taken part. The day is designed to help historic institutions empower young people and give them meaningful roles in their organisations. Over 5,000 people, from toddlers to 25 year olds, now take part each year. Many participants have gone on to become more involved in the life of the museum as a result.
During the summer of 2026, Lilly (age 12), Fliss (age 12), Jonah (age 8) and Scarlett (age 10) all spent time with two of our Collections Volunteers to understand the role of curators and collections specialists. They also enjoyed an informative tour of the house to find out more about its history and that of the Wesley family, and then chose an object from our collection to work with and then exhibit.
The objects they chose were some that had previously not been on display, but all had interesting histories which our young curators were keen to research. You can visit this very special exhibition created by Lilly, Fliss, Jonah and Scarlett at Epworth Old Rectory this summer and find out more by reading their research below.
The John Wesley Tea Pot
By Lilly (age 12)
Both Josiah Wedgwood and John Wesley were influential people of the 18th century who shared the same religious belief and a passion for social reform. They both possessed a deep hatred for the slave trade. A cause Wedgwood actively supported by producing anti-slavery medallions. Wedgewood created a special line of decorative pottery for Wesley including the famous one-gallon teapot with decoration inspired by Mrs Wesley’s calico apron. https://wesleysheritage.org.uk/object/john-wesleys-teapot/
Originally John Wesley was strongly against tea drinking. He said, “it was an expensive fashionable luxury” and “a detriment for finances and the poor”. He even wrote a pamphlet in 1748 it was titled A Letter to a Friend Concerning Tea in which he warned “Tea is a deadly poison”. Wesley suffered from symptoms of a paralytic disorder which he blamed on his tea drinking. In his book, Primitive Physic, Wesley recommended that if people needed a warm infusion, they should drink herbal alternatives such as sage, green balm, mint, or penny royal instead. Later in life he began drinking tea again after a prominent physician recommended it to help ward off a respiratory illness. By the end of his life, he was known to host tea drinking’s for his ministers.
I chose this item because I like the pattern and the colours of the teapot, particularly the cobalt blue, and the garland of flowers that represents Mrs. Wesley’s calico apron. It was an interesting item to research because it was connected to the Physic Garden and the use of herbs to make herbal tea.
Book of Common Prayer
By Fliss (age 12)
Book clasps applied steady, even pressure to the boards. The gold details on the book indicate honour for the sacred text. This edition was published in 1861.
John Wesley wrote an abridged version of the Book of Common Prayer in 1784 titled “The Sunday Service of the Methodists in America”. John Wesley changed the Book of Common Prayer primarily to adapt it to his beliefs. John changed some of the words in the text to reflect Methodist theology. John changed the words priest to minister, elder or deacon and used the word honour instead of worship.
I chose the book because I love books and thought this one was very interesting.
‘The Brand Plucked from the Burning’
by Scarlett (age 10)
(note this image is not actually made from ivory but appears to be so)
The UK’s Ivory Act prohibits buying, selling, hiring and advertising of items made of or containing ivory from listed species. Dealing includes sales as well as importing and exporting for commercial purposes. Breaching the Act can result in a maximum fine of £250,000 or up to 5 years in prison.
Listed species includes:
- Elephant
- Hippopotamus
- Orca
- Narwal
- Sperm whale
You can only deal in ivory if the item meets one of five strict, predefined exemption categories and is successfully registered or certified. The exemption categories are:
- Pre 1918 items of outstanding artistic, historical or cultural value.
- Pre 1947 items with a low ivory content, less than 10%, and the removal of it would damage the item.
- Pre 1975 musical instruments with an ivory content of less than 20%.
- Pre 1918 portrait miniatures. Portrait miniatures made before 1918 that have a total surface area of no more than 320 square centimetres.
- Sales to or acquisitions by qualifying museums.
I chose this piece because I found the story behind the painting really interesting, and I care about animals, so I really care about the ivory laws.
Magic Lantern
by Jonah (age 8)
More than 100 years ago, people didn’t have televisions, computers or tablets. Instead, they used something called a magic lantern. A bright light shone through special glass pictures and made large images appear on a wall, so everyone could see them.
These glass pictures are called magic lantern slides. They were shown one after another while someone told a story, a bit like reading a picture book to a whole room full of people.
This collection of slides tells the story of John Wesley and the Methodist movement. The pictures were carefully kept in their wooden box and have survived for over a century. Today, they help us understand how people learned and shared stories before modern technology.
I chose this piece because I found the magic lantern really interesting, especially the stuff we found out about them. My favourite slide is the Epworth Old Rectory slide.
Explore more of the Magic Lantern Slides HERE
