Clothing and other items worn by John Wesley
1750-1800
Textile, leather and metal
Late 1700s
A few items of clothing belonging to John Wesley are preserved and on display in John Wesley’s House, including this gown, a pair of shoes, shoe buckles and spurs.
The gown is especially interesting. Long thought to have been a preaching gown, this garment was in fact a library gown, similar to today's dressing gown.
It is also an early example of recycling. The way this garment was put together, with a sometimes upside-down pattern which does not match up across the arms, back and front, indicates that only a limited amount of material was available.
Did the fabric originally make up another garment or was it a leftover? John Wesley was known to be economical and thrifty, so a garment made from reused or leftover material would be entirely in keeping with his character.
Late 1700s
A few items of clothing belonging to John Wesley are preserved and on display in John Wesley’s House, including this gown, a pair of shoes, shoe buckles and spurs.
The gown is especially interesting. Long thought to have been a preaching gown, this garment was in fact a library gown, similar to today's dressing gown.
It is also an early example of recycling. The way this garment was put together, with a sometimes upside-down pattern which does not match up across the arms, back and front, indicates that only a limited amount of material was available.
Did the fabric originally make up another garment or was it a leftover? John Wesley was known to be economical and thrifty, so a garment made from reused or leftover material would be entirely in keeping with his character.
