The Stories from the Stones 3 - By Steve Lavender

'Stories from the Stones'
Please visit the Contents Page for this section, where you will find other 'Stories from the Stones.'

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

Story 3 - Nathan Staniforth, 1639 - 1702, and John Ramsden, 1682 - 1726
There are a number of references to Penistone Grammar School in the graveyard and this single stone – appropriately in the corner of the burial ground nearest the original school – bears the names of two of its Masters - Nathan Staniforth and John Ramsden.

It was in 1392 that the formal grant of a piece of land at Kirk-flatt (the area now occupied by the car park behind the bistro at the top of Church Street) was made by Thomas Clarel (Clarel Street) to John del Rodes ‘and others’ for the establishment of a school. This is accepted as the Foundation Deed and, remarkably, predates many larger surrounding cities such as Barnsley, Huddersfield and Sheffield in the establishment of a formal place of education by quite some years. The school would be known as the 'Free Grammar School' of and within the Parish of Penistone in the County of York.

From a historic perspective – the King at the time was Richard II and this was 150 years before the arrival of Queen Elizabeth I as Monarch. From 1392 up until 1668 there were twelve Schoolmasters who were generally from the clergy. When the Rev'd John Revel resigned in 1668, Nathan Staniforth took over. Staniforth was not from the clergy but, like many of his predecessors, he came with a MA from Christ’s College Cambridge. Staniforth was born in 1639 and presided over the Grammar School from 1668 for 34 years until his death 24th November 1702, aged 63. Staniforth produced a book containing the Grammar School Deeds and some interesting descriptions of the School’s property and rents.

This is of course the time that another famous resident from our area would have been at the Grammar School – namely on Nicholas Saunderson - who would have been a young schoolboy during the 1690s. Nicholas Saunderson will feature in one of our future stories. Following the death of Staniforth the new Schoolmaster was John Ramsden born in 1682. Like Staniforth, Ramsden was not from the clergy and he was Master from 1702 and presided over the removal of the original building and its replacement. This school would remain here for nearly 200 years before moving to its present site on Huddersfield Road. Ramsden was Master for 24 years and died on 10th March 1726 aged just 44. The rather unusual discovery at the graveyard is that these two Masters of Penistone Grammar School appear in the same grave, with the same headstone:

'Here was interred ye body of Nathan Staniforth 34 years as Master of Y^e Free School of Peniston Nov y^e 24th Ao. Dom 1702 Age 63.
Here also was interred the body of John Ramsden (24 years Master of the Free School of Peniston) who departed this life Y^e 44th year of his age on 10th Mar A^o. Dom 1726'

The history of the Church and the School are of course forever entwined and this single grave to two of its earliest and long serving Masters is a reminder of that association. We will remember Nathan Staniforth and John Ramsden for their contribution to this remarkable School and its story. I wish to acknowledge The History of Penistone 1906 John Ness Dransfield for the drawing and information contained in this story.

Steve Lavender, Chair Friends of St John’s Church Penistone. December 2020. See also PGS Archive and the PGS History page.