The Stories from the Stones 29 - 'Finding Hannah Howe'

Please visit the Contents Page for this section where you will find other 'Stories from the Stones.' From the St John’s Church Burial Ground Project.

These same stories are also sometimes published on Penistone Archive Group's Facebook page, in their Journal and 'The Bridge' magazine issued by St John's church, Penistone. Many thanks to their tireless author, Mr Steve Lavender and to Mr Richard Galliford for their contributions to local history and this website. - JB.

'Finding Hannah Howe' - d. 5th November 1770, aged 19
This story concerns an old gravestone which had been covered up by another flat gravestone, laid on top of it for many years. In early February 2026, the heavy top slab was moved and wedged up on blocks by the Penistone Fire and Rescue crew on exercise but it did not completely uncover the slab below. The weather had been continuously cold and wet since before Christmas 2025 and it must have been an unpleasant job for the team. As leader of the Friends of Penistone St John's Church, Richard Galliford had been doing a lot of work in the churchyard and hoped to see the job finished with the old gravestone back in its proper condition and its inscription readable.

Then, on a mild and sunny day, Tuesday 24th February 2026, the Friends of Penistone Church were digging channels and installing cables ready for electric lighting. As they were on hand to lend their muscles, Richard 'roped them in' to complete the job of moving the heavy top slab back on to its own pedestal. This they did well and it properly exposed the gravestone below, with the team cleaning it up to make it legible. Project leader, Richard Galliford, explains the story:

Finding Hannah Howe.
Three months ago we found a gravestone laid under another. The big one-ton stone slab for some reason had been moved off its own pedestal and on top of the other. Possible because of the growth of a tree as it became unstable. But, whose was it?
It seemed an impossible task. In the first case, our local fire service applied its lifting equipment as a training session. Even so, it was not possible to read the text in full. Yesterday on a Volunteer Working Day, the Friends of the Church team, using wood and spades and taking care not to damage either gravestones, were able to move and replace the big stone back on to its pedestal and re-discover the hidden grave below, hidden for so many years.
It is the grave of Hannah Howe of Hordren, a farm near the Dog and Partridge on Bord Hill. She had died in 1770, aged 19 years.
Welcome back Hannah. Many thanks to our volunteers.

The ruins of a farm at 'Hordren' can be found by going down a lane near some old houses on Bord Hill, lower down than the Dog and Partridge.
For how long the gravestone had been covered by another stone, we can only guess.