Penistone Church

Churchyard and Exterior
Some stone features in the west doorway are from a very old demolished chapel on Chapel Lane. Stained glass windows are now protected from gormless youths by perspex sheets. The lower part of the churchyard has been improved by a 'sensory garden' area. The official name was the 'Sensory & Heritage Gardens Project' (although it is still a churchyard by any other name). The plan was:

• Re-laying of “permissive path” using traditional 'York Stone' paving.
• Build two walled seating areas near Shrewsbury Road entrance.
• Create 'Memorial Spiral' at Shrewsbury Road entrance dedicated to “The Blind Professor”, mathematician Nicholas Saunderson 1682-1739.
• Signs indicating the significance of the flowers (with braille). Well, blind people can still smell them.
• Position and plant four 'raised beds' along the pathway.
• Design of ten 'Heritage Millstone Lights' with significant dates inscribed.

The sensory garden was built in 2006 and they made a good job of it. It looks halfway decent (Praise indeed!). I can't say if all the features were put in but small plaques and information panels make a walk through this part of the churchyard more interesting now.