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Welcome to the main part of this website, which is mostly few pictures with too many words. The difficult part is to give a true impression of the character of our Yorkshire market town. Before we start, local residents are proud to have a sense of identity and a community spirit, partly because of our physical location which is on its own and partly because so many local people have always stayed put. Ours is a semi-rural setting which is not part of any conurbation. We have fields, trees, farms and fresh air.
Just before we start - the name! If you were brought up in our area the slightly rude-sounding 'Penistone' is of no consequence. To others it can be a source of great amusement for about five minutes and our road signs disappear from time to time to feed this passing amusement. It is just silly. We hear that search engines don't allow 'Penistone' through but it is a myth, firstly because there is little evidence that it happens, secondly because it is not based on a vulgar or slang word. Those asterisks are simply not required.
The name comes from our being at around 750 feet above sea level, with 'Pen' meaning 'hill' and as a settlement or a village. It has been spelt many different ways such as Pengeston(e) and often 'Peniston' without the 'e' in old documents. Now that is out of the way, here is plenty more verbiage about our distinctive hilltop town.
Penistone has long adopted the Clarel coat of arms from its absentee Lord of the Manor Thomas Clarel who drowned in the River Don in 1442. The Clarel line ended around that time but the local Town Council, clubs and societies still use the distinctive emblem of six footless birds, or variants thereof. The Grammar School and football club also retain the martlets in their logos.
So, where might you have you heard of Penistone? Was it our legendary ice-cold railway station on the old Woodhead Line; or Sheffield Wednesday football ground on Penistone Road; or the rare white-faced Penistone breed of sheep; or Penistone Moors and Penistone Hill in Haworth where the Brontë sisters lived? Or perhaps the scenic 'Penistone Line' railway linking Sheffield with Huddersfield through many tunnels. Ask that question more than a century ago and they have naturally have thought about 'Penistones' as hard-wearing and warm coats, made from local wool from the hardy Penistone breed of sheep from what were once the bleak moors which surrounded our town.
In the context of Penistone Grammar School, the local historian John N Dransfield wrote in the 1906 history of Penistone:
'Many years before Barnsley, Sheffield and Huddersfield began to take up the question of education; indeed in 1397, and for many years after, Penistone would probably be a more important and opulent place than either Barnsley, Sheffield, or Huddersfield.'
Back to the present day. We are in the Barnsley Borough but never 'In Barnsley' - as we are quite separate and not part of the conurbation. We have a distinct and thriving community, and we know who we are. We have a Town Council, a spacious Town Hall (follow the link below to the Paramount Theatre), a Sports Centre, a Community Radio Station, a Town Mayor, an annual Mayor's Parade with Gala, some micro-breweries and, of course, the famous Penistone Agricultural Show every year. The 'Show' brings in thousands of visitors as a wonderful shop window for what our district and surrounds can offer. The 'Tour de Yorkshire' cycling event has passed through our district more than once, to great enthusiasm from local residents. We also have some interesting history (see the History Timelines) going back to 1392 and before.
The Trans-Pennine Trail passes through Penistone as it stretches from coast to coast and it is popular with cyclists, dog walkers and horse riders as a convenient and accessible way to enjoy the countryside. Penistone is a place where people still say "Hello" and "Good Morning" for no better reason than we are simply like that. With the explosion of house-building in the area and good access to road and rail, we welcome the many 'comers-in' and hope that they will feel at home as part of the community, and support local businesses (see below for information for visitors and new residents).
The Cradle of Association Football
Penistone has another claim to fame, as the 'Cradle of Association Football,' although others in Scotland and at Eton also have good claims to influencing football's history. Local people, Steve Lavender, Kevin Neill and Richard Galliford have built a compelling case that Penistone characters were at the forefront of the development of the national game of football. They are the joint authors of an interesting book on the history of Penistone Church Football Club, available locally from the Football Club, Clark's Chemist, Penistone Royal British legion and Cafe Creme. PCFC can mail copies out for around £10, from their website.
The development of Sheffield Football Club and Hallam Football Club was connected with Penistone, Thurlstone and surrounding area. Of particular note were Rev Samuel Sunderland, headmaster of Penistone Grammar School in 1836 and vicar of Penistone, and his pupils John Charles Shaw (became first Captain of Sheffield FC) and John Marsh (first secretary of the Wednesday team).
Further reading:
See the Penistone Church FC's History page and Mr Lavender's Story from the Stones 18 - 'Penistone Church Football Club 1906' on this website.
Penistone Tour Links
I hope that you will find something of interest here. The aerial views give a good impression of the size and setting of Penistone and then we have some privileged views from the church tower and behind the scenes and stage of the Town Hall. If you look at some of the walks below, you will find some Youtube tours of Penistone. As a matter of courtesy, if you copy pictures from this website for use elsewhere, please credit their source, Thank You.
Town Map
This map view of the town centre has now changed over to Google Maps. BMBC's Zoomable Street Map at Barnsley Planning is another way to explore our town.
The Ovine Marbles
More correctly known as The Penistone Sheep Trail, eleven marble artworks of granite sheep in a variety of poses are scattered around Penistone. The idea is for people to walk and locate them for a bit fun. Penistone Town Council has an informative section on the Penistone Sheep Trail, complete with information by Cllr Wayne Chadburn in a downloadable pdf document. See also the Penistone Sheep-themed Art Trail at Barnsley Council.
Spotted so far are by: Penistone Libary, The Paramount, the Market Barn (two) and on the Trans-Pennine Trail. There are others and Google Maps also lists them. This was an intitiative funded by Barnsley Council to commemorate the Penistone Whitefaced-Woodland breed of sheep which was and still is special to our district. In the old days, the strong wool was gathered to make hardy outdoor clothing that could stand up to our usual weather conditions. The 'Penistones' (overcoats) had the advantage of being cheap too. Before the railway came to town and Penistone's industry took off, Thurlstone had been more populous than Penistone and was the main centre of local textile work. Weavers' cottages with their distinctive windows are still to be found there.
Local Walks
Local walks can be found on these links and from leaflets in Penistone Library. Given our high and exposed location, the Penistone area is noted for its often windy and cold weather and you might need a woolly hat, weatherproof clothes and boots. Don't forget to pack sandwiches and water:
). The organised walk is in May each year. - Local walk around Penistone of just over two miles. (see Facebook). Youtube Videos
Take a look at Pennine SEO for some very professional Penistone videos (from Pennine CEO Company). Let's Walk has a tour of Penistone from 2021. The Village Idiot (Andy Smith) some very interesting parish tours which include Penistone, Stocksbridge and neighbouring places. Andy has set himself a mission to do the whole country on video. The Guide to South Yorkshire has a fuzzy video from 2014, which takes a brief look at Penistone as part of the Around and About in Yorkshire collection. Another in that series is a circular walk around Denby Dale, and up to The George, Upper Denby and High Flatts Quaker House (with a brief glimpse of Mr D Cooke) before returning to Denby Dale. Another source is 'Let's Walk' with a short tour of Penistone town centre.
There is a good video for Hepworth Feast with Hepworth Brass Band and a procession visiting Scholes. Not far from Upper Denby is Ivor Lloyd's Walk Around Ingbirchworth Reservoir on Youtube, which is very peaceful and easy. I suggest that you park around the bend at the far end of the reservoir wall to start and finish rather than in the village because of limited parking there. You might visit the Fountain pub anyway while visiting, if it is open. Then take the fresh air as you walk back to the car.
For Visitors or Newcomers to Penistone and District
Although Penistone is sometimes claimed to be the highest market town in the country, that has been debunked and the prize goes to somewhere in Wales, putting us in second place. Because Penistone is quite high above sea level, it is often cold and breezy but its position east of the Pennines protects us from much of Lancashire's rainfall. Although Penistone is being over-developed, it is a largely rural town which retains its own sense of identity (don't ever say Penistone is 'in Barnsley'). The countryside is easy walking distance from any Penistone address and scenic places such as local reservoirs, Cannon Hall or Wortley Hall are not far to drive from here.
Facts and Figures
Take a look at 'Penistone and Stocksbridge' (our parliamentary constituency) or just Penistone at the Office for National Statistics.
A few interesting results from the 2021 census, Penistone only:
Car parking
This
is often tricky in Penistone and any on-street parking near the town centre is not recommended because the streets often become blocked and residents' tempers frazzled. The easiest car park to find is the time-limited and large car park at Tesco but with small car parks at the Paramount (Shrewsbury Road) and the Community Centre (Church Street).
You might be able to park on Shrewsbury Road unless there is a show or film running at the Paramount, when both the road and the Paramount car park will be full to bursting. The Paramount has a charging area for electric vehicles. Please do not park anywhere on Park Avenue as it is a bus route which is easily clogged up and large vehicles stop there deliver to the Co-op and Spar supermarkets.
The Railway Station car park is usually full and with jack-booted wardens to keep a close eye on the car park and its approach road. They do issue parking tickets. Every main road into Penistone passes under a low bridge of some sort and it is very rare to see tall vehicles in Penistone, such as double-decker buses. Possible but unlikely. Bear in mind that Penistone is always busy on the Market Days of Thursdays and Saturdays, with parking in high demand. Having said all that, you will nearly always find a spot in the Tesco car park, especially at the Market Barn end.
The Trans-Pennine Trail
This is a popular local route for walkers, horse-riders and cyclists as it passes close to Penistone town centre and our town is a magnet for this sort of outdoor activity. There is easy access to the Trans-Pennine from many local sites but the best place to park for the trail is by Julie's Cafe with plenty of space on rough ground which is not time-limited. Very conveniently, ' Cycle Penistone CIC' is a bicycle hire and repair centre right next to Julie's Cafe, so you don't even need to bring a bike. If entering Penistone by car from Bridge End traffic lights, turn right at St Mary's Street Roundabout at the top of the hill. You will see Julie's Cafe and the parking area ahead. In fact, the bridge carries the Trans-Pennine Trail, although it was formerly for the Woodhead Line railway. See the TPT section for more info.
The Town Centre Plan page might help get your bearings. Please observe these rules so that everyone can enjoy their visit to the Trail (taken from the official BMBC sign on the Trail):
The Trans-Pennine Trail
- Please help everyone enjoy the Trail safely,
- Watch your speed,
- Keep dogs under control and clean up after them,
- Consider other users,
- Leave wild flowers for others to enjoy,
- Take your litter and dog poo home.
Cyclists - by law you must give way to walkers and horse-riders on public bridleways (including the TPT) under Section 30 of the Countryside Act 1968.
To report Trans-Pennine Trail issues in the Penistone area or for more information about the Trans-Pennine Trail, please contact Barnsley Council's Public Rights of Way team on 01226 773 555.
Eating, Drinking and Shopping
Penistone still has a lingering legacy of 'half-day closing' on Wednesdays, when just a few businesses are closed in the afternoon. Our town is not short of cafes, take-aways, fish & chip shops or places to go for a pint. There are two public houses in the town centre, two at Bridge End and Cubley Hall (with good facilities outdoors for children to play) is a short drive up Cubley and on a bus route from Penistone. In recent years two more bars opened near the church, the Vault and Cristello's cocktail bar and Cuccina is a new cafe near the Co-op with an upstairs bar.
There are also some members' clubs in Penistone, with the centrally-located Royal British Legion, Penistone Church Football Club with a popular clubhouse on Church View Road and Penistone Bowling Club right next to Tesco with its comfortable clubhouse and bar. Even Penistone's great hall of entertainment, the Paramount, has its own bar open before shows and in the intervals. Yes there are still intervals in the films and other entertainments at the Paramount.
The town centre has two Indian take-aways, one of which is also a restaurant and there is another Indian by Bridge End traffic lights. Spring Vale has a popular Chinese take-away. There are cafes in the town centre, Spring Vale and by the Trans-Pennine Trail. The town centre has two chemists, Spar and Co-op food stores, ladies' clothes, a charity shop, beer shops, three butchers, several hairdressers and other shops. The big Tesco food store and car park is a short walk from the town centre. We have lost our three banks and the building society but the Post Office can do some of the financial stuff. Penistone's shops might not be as inspiring or varied as such as Holmfirth but they are still worth a shufti.
Take a Picture
Ours is a small town but of distinctive character, surrounded by largely unspoilt countryside and not (so far) contiguous with any other settlements. The iconic views of Penistone are the church on the hill, the viaduct and the River Don with Watermeadows Park at its side. Penistone's terrain is hilly, rising to over 700 feet towards the South. The town sits by the River Don which lies in a glacially-etched vale running East - West.
Our undulating fields are separated by dry-stone walls and usually with sheep or cows grazing. Some of outlying farms are centuries old. An ever-increasing swathe of red-brick houses fills most of the town but the Railway Viaduct and QEII Recreation Ground (aka the Showground) mark natural boundaries between town and country. The oldest buildings are of Yorkshire stone. Our neighbouring village of Thurlstone is more traditional in style with good examples of weavers' cottages. A very visible landmark is the elegant Emley Moor transmitter tower a few miles away which is always a welcome sight when returning from afar.
Of particular scenic interest to the photographer or videographer is the railway viaduct, which was opened on 1st July 1850. Its 29 stone arches sweep across the vale in an arc with a radius of half a mile (40 chains), with Watermeadows Park on the 'town' side and arable fields on the 'country' side. The viaduct is in daily use conveying trains between Penistone and Huddersfield and might be best viewed from Watermeadows Park by the Don. From time to time the viaduct carries the steam-hauled 'Tin Bath' excursions which you might see best from the top of Wentworth Crescent. This photo was taken from the top of the church tower but visitors are not allowed up there as the last part of the climb is better suited to a mountain climber.
If you arrive at the station around twenty past the hour, you might see the train arriving from Huddersfield over the viaduct into Penistone Station. It gives a little wiggle on the way in. The trip to Huddersfield is quite scenic and you can buy a ticket from the ticket machine on the platform (don't get on the train without one). The last arch of the viaduct passes over the busy Sheffield Road. At 14 foot 9 inches, it is frequently struck by lorries and sometimes more than once a week.
Until the closure of the Woodhead Line, Penistone Station was a busy and important junction with trains connecting with Manchester Piccadilly, Sheffield Victoria and Huddersfield. The station was often called 'the coldest in England' to wait at but its waiting room always had a raging coal fire. It also had a cafe but they are both long gone now. Trains to Sheffield were later diverted to Barnsley over the attractive Oxspring viaduct and Sheffield Victoria closed down. The old railway line became the Trans-Pennine Trail, referred to below. We can now go to Meadow Hall by train (via Barnsley) to rid ourselves of excess shopping funds.
Penistone church is a fine, ancient listed building with many features to please the photographer. It has an interesting churchyard with even its own obelisk at the lower end. Gravestone dates start from the mid-18th century and finish around 1890 when a new cemetery opened on the edge of town. Some old stones are part of the pavement. There must be many unmarked graves going back much earlier. Parts of the church date back to the thirteenth century and the 500-year-old tower has two clock faces and contains a fine carillon of eight bells. Bell-ringers give a fine performance every Thursday evening from 7.30pm. If you live in our district, you will love the quality and sound of the eight church bells.
A stainless steel weather vane in the shape of a fish can be seen at the top of the tower. The stainless steel represents the local steel industry and the fish (icthus) was an ancient and secret sign of Christianity from when Christians were persecuted. Inside the church, part of a Saxon stone is built into a wall near the pulpit and had originally been used as the focal point for Christian worship on top of the hill, long before the church was built. The War Memorial was erected in 1924, the same year that the tower gained its second clock face. There has been a spate of new War Memorials erected in recent years, particularly in Thurlstone, Thurgoland and Ingbirchworth.
Markets
Penistone's main Market Day is Thursday with a smaller one on Saturdays, from around 9am but stalls start to pack up soon in the early afternoon. We could call the Market Barn a 'Marmite' thing as people either love it or hate it; but it does come in handy on Market Days and is sometimes used for other events, such as bands, Easter singing, Hallowe'en and Oktoberfest. Also on Thursdays (10am to noon) is a 'Country Market' in the Community Centre, selling jams, chutneys, pies, vegetables, bread and more and where you can get a cup of tea and a bun.
We have a Community Centre, Railway Station, Police Station, Fire Station and Post Office. Penistone Grammar School is on the outskirts with its history traceable to 1392. The new version has all of the latest facilities. There are various industries and supply depots in the area, such as cement, non-destructive testing, gasket-making, blacking, steel specialists, corn mills and the town is surrounded by plenty of farming.
The Paramount
Penistone is very proud of its film and thespian theatre which is more than a century old. The Paramount is (in normal times) very busy, with a full schedule of films, plays, pantomimes, comedy nights and music performances (mostly evenings). In the old days it was also used for popular dances and as an assembly hall for public meetings, hustings and unions.
To the irritation of film distributors, the Paramount has proper intervals in its film and other performances, so that the public can have a few moments to reflect on the entertainment in the hospitality room, with perhaps a pint of beer or cup of tea. We are very civilised in Penistone and we can even bring our pint back into the theatre.
The Paramount was designed from the start as a theatre and assembly room in 1914, having a stage and proscenium arch, and was paid for by public subscription with a little extra on the rates. It started film shows in 1915 and they have continued ever since. The Paramount is run by Penistone Town Council and is one of very few council-run venues of this type in the country. Originally called 'The Town hall Cinema,' for one unlamented period Barnsley Council imposed the unloved name of 'The Metro' upon it. Sense prevailed when the cinema organ was installed and the name changed to the more appropriate 'Paramount.'
Penistone Events
We don't have a lot of public events but our main ones are very popular. We have the Mayor's Parade and Penistone Gala (both on the second Sunday of June), Penistone Agricultural Show (second Saturday of September), Remembrance Sunday with a large parade and assembly by the War Memorial and church service. There have also been two Penistone Armed Forces Days so far and its organising group hoping to make it an annual event with a Military Parade and a large military event on the Showground.
Penistone Arts Week had a shaky start around 2008 then made a big comeback in recent years with celebrity authors and others presenting a range of free and paid activities. Penistone also has other arts and crafts events such as the annual 'Art at the Altar' in Penistone church. Penistone even has its own and very small art gallery (Shrewsbury Road) dedicated to its resident artist.
Sport and Recreation
A large field behind Tesco is usually called 'The Showground.' It is designated a 'Queen Elizabeth II Field in Trust' and exclusively preserved for recreational use. It is used for Penistone Agricultural Show (second Saturday of September), Bonfire Night (nearest Saturday to Guy Fawkes Night), Penistone Gala (June) and some horsey events. Also for kids playing football, dog walkers, joggers and the rest. The adjacent Trans-Pennine Trail is also very popular with walkers, joggers, cyclists and dog-walkers. The Showground field also has a dedicated skate park next to the trail.
Penistone Mayor's Parade Weekend
This normally stretches from Friday to the actual Parade and Gala day on the Sunday, usually the second Sunday of June in recent years. The Parade always brings out the crowds and the Gala has all manner of entertainments such as: brass bands, trade and charity stalls, food and drink vendors, Real Ale bar and children's rides. This was a typical Parade weekend in 2019, as a rough guide:
Penistone's most important annual event and crowd-puller is Penistone Agricultural Show, which has all of the Gala activities and more. The annual Show is on the second Saturday of September and is regarded as the largest one-day event of its kind in the country. It is Penistone's most important and prestigious event and attracts exhibitors and crowds of thousands of people from far and wide. Well-organised on-field parking is provided on the day. The Show first started in 1854, pausing only for two world wars and a pandemic. This is a picture from the 2008 Show.
Penistone also has a variety of sporting venues and events, such as Penistone Church Football Club (Church View Road), Penistone Cricket Club (Queen Street, Spring Vale), Park Runs around the Showground and nearby Trans-Pennine Trail and Penistone Footpath Runners, based at the Football Club, organises some serious running events on the roads, hills and moors. The Sports Centre aka 'Penistone Leisure Centre' (Manchester Road) has its own full range of indoor sporting activities and will soon have a board games club and cafe.
Moving In?
Penistone has for at least a century had an estate agency of one sort or another and even now you can find both Simon Blyth and Lancaster agencies. If you are moving into our district, you will find a good welcome but particularly if you become part of our semi-rural community. It used to be said that 'everybody knows everybody' around here but that is less true with the expanding town. By the way, if you ever hear the term 'Comer-in' it is not to be taken too seriously. It is not 'hate' speech. It used to be said (and not very seriously) that you are a 'Comer-in' unless at least one of you grandparents was born around here. That was from when very few people removed to somewhere new. A smattering of Yorkshire dialect could well endear you to local inhabitants.
"Tha what?" As a local resident, you will often hear "Good morning" or "Hello" or even "Eyup!" when passing strangers in the street. That is normal and you won't be mugged if you politely reciprocate with a similar greeting. But they will look askance if you do not respond at all. Even a nod might do. They don't want your life story but a small interaction is welcome and helps stave an idea that you are a stuck-up snob. There is still some Yorkshire dialect around but less so as time goes on. You can depend on an interesting debate with total strangers in a shop or bus queue if you mention Teacakes/breadcakes/barmcakes, etc., then leave them to argue about it between themselves for the next half-hour. Another key word is 'Pikelet' - but don't get me started.
As a newbie, you need to buy new things and, hopefully, to brush up your local knowledge about your adopted hometown. A good starting point would be Penistone's official website, 'Visit Penistone' and its 'High Street' page. If you want to be involved in local activities and events, Facebook is a good window on local activities (see below) and take a look at the Events List. If you like local history, take a look at Penistone History and Archive Group or pay them a visit in the Community centre on Market Days (Thursday). They also have bi-monthly history talks on Wednesdays.
If you are on Facebook, take a look at these buying and selling groups: 'We are Penistone - sell, buy and local info,' 'Items for sale in Penistone' and 'S36 Promote Your Business.' The local community groups are often filled with useful questions like: "Where can I get ..." - or - "Who can repair ..." etc. And lost cats, of course, always lost cats. Take a look at: 'Community Action Penistone,' 'Penistone Community Forum,' 'Thurlstone Community Group' and 'We are Millhouse Green,' 'Millhouse Green Village Community Association' also 'Hoylandswaine Events Group.' The lost cats always turn up.
A Vibrant Community
Penistone people are often quirky but generally good-natured - and maybe a bit reserved until they get to know you. Try out a "Good Morning" or a "How Do?" to a passing stranger and you are very likely to receive the same in return and possibly a smile. Following the great house-building explosion of recent years 'Comers-in' have arrived from all over the UK and all are welcome to be part of our local community. I can assert that a good many people who grew up in our area have never left it.
It is not always easy to define what 'Community' actually means but there is an underlying spirit in our area which readily comes to the surface in times of adversity, pleasure or pain. The Penistone grapevine has always been fairly efficient but it now works like greased lighting through the use of social media. Local area people often share their experiences, recommendations, concerns, issues and information on such as Facebook and anyone coming to live here would benefit greatly from joining in.
Visit Penistone is the official website for Penistone (unlike this one) and the best source of local information. Other information and leaflets can be found in Penistone Library and Penistone Church (Market Days and Saturday mornings). Look for 'An Explorer's Guide to Penistone', which is full of interesting material. Penistone Archives in the Community Centre (open Market Days) has a wealth of historic information and displays and various history talks. Our Penistone Paramount Theatre is always worth a visit as a traditional cinema and theatre with a full programme of film, live and theatre entertainment. It even has traditional intervals and a fully-licenced bar.
Neil Armstrong: 'Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand.'
