Penistone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Penistone |
|
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Market Street, Penistone |
|
 Penistone
|
|
| Population | 24,760 Wards (East and West) 2021 |
| OS grid reference | SE 245 033 |
| • London | 155 mi (249 km) SSE |
| Civil parish |
|
| Metropolitan borough |
|
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SHEFFIELD |
| Postcode district | S36 |
| Dialling code | 01226 |
| Police | South Yorkshire |
| Fire | South Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
|
Penistone (pronounced PEN-iss-tun) is a lively market town in South Yorkshire, England. It's part of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and had about 24,760 people living there in 2021.
Historically, Penistone was in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It's located about 8 miles (13 km) west of Barnsley and 14.2 miles (23 km) north-west of Sheffield. The town sits in the lower hills of the Pennines, a mountain range often called the "backbone of England."
The highest point nearby is Hartcliffe Tower, which is 1,194 feet (364 metres) above sea level. From here, you can see amazing views of the surrounding countryside. This area is mostly rural, with farms on fertile land. You'll see lots of dry stone walls, small villages, and farms with animals. The region is famous for a tough type of sheep called the Whitefaced Woodland.
The town centre, around St John's Church, is about 820 feet (250 metres) above sea level. However, the land around Penistone rises even higher, offering many spots with wide views of West Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
History of Penistone
What's in a Name?
The name 'Penistone' first appeared in a very old book called the Domesday Book in 1086. Back then, it was written as Pengestone or Pangeston.
The town is built on a high ridge, which is probably how it got its name. 'Penistone' comes from an old Welsh word penn, meaning 'head', 'top', or 'hill'. It also includes the Old English words ing (a place-name ending) and tun (meaning an enclosure, farm, or village). So, it most likely means "a farm or village at or called Penning."
Early History
Before the Normans arrived in 1066, a person named Ailric owned the land where Penistone is now. But in 1069, during a time called the Harrying of the North, the Normans destroyed the settlement. The Domesday Book later described it as "waste," meaning it was empty and ruined.
A knight named Sir Gyles Penyston, who lived in the 1200s, was known as "of Penyston," meaning he lived in or came from this area.
Sheep and Markets
Sheep have been sold in Penistone for a very long time, even before 1699. That year, the town received a special royal charter, which allowed it to officially hold markets. The area was also home to a special and now rare type of sheep called the Penistone sheep.
Old Buildings
Penistone stayed quite small until the railway arrived in 1845. However, some buildings from before the 1800s are still standing. The oldest is St. John the Baptist Church, which is a beautiful medieval church. The White Hart pub in town also dates back to 1377.
Penistone has always been a market town. While its historic livestock market closed recently for new developments, a new building called the 'Cruck Barn' was built for the market place. It's made of oak and looks very traditional.
The Railway Story
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway line, which passed through Penistone and the three-mile-long Woodhead Tunnel, opened on July 15, 1845. Building this line was very difficult, and many workers died during its construction.
In 1849, Penistone's impressive 29-arch viaduct was built. This huge bridge was made from stone taken from a nearby quarry. On February 2, 1916, two arches of the viaduct collapsed due to heavy rain, but thankfully, the train crew managed to escape. The viaduct was quickly repaired and back in use that same year.
Penistone became an important railway junction, meaning different lines met there. Penistone station used to have many trains going to Manchester, Sheffield, and Huddersfield. However, after some railway changes in the 1960s, passenger trains on the Woodhead Line to Manchester stopped. Goods trains continued for a while, but eventually, much of the railway was removed. Today, the station is served by trains connecting Huddersfield and Sheffield on what is known as the "Penistone Line."
The Woodhead Line was special because it was the first main railway in the UK to be electrified in 1954. The building that controlled the power for the line is still standing near Penistone station and is now used for businesses. The Woodhead Line closed completely in 1981, and its path is now part of the Trans-Pennine Trail, a popular route for walking and cycling.
Getting Around Penistone
Penistone has good transport links.
Trains
Penistone railway station is on the Penistone Line. You can catch trains to Huddersfield, Barnsley, and Sheffield. Trains usually run once an hour in both directions.
Buses
Local bus services connect Penistone with nearby towns like Barnsley, Holmfirth, Sheffield, and Stocksbridge.
Local Government
Penistone is part of the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, which handles local government matters. The Penistone Town Council, located at Penistone Town Hall, looks after local issues specific to the town.
Geography of Penistone
Penistone is located on the south bank of the River Don. The area around Penistone includes several smaller villages and covers a large amount of land, mostly farms and pastures, along with some moorland. The ground beneath Penistone contains coal and sandstone, which were mined and quarried in the past.
Penistone's Economy
Penistone has a busy market, though it became a bit smaller after a Tesco supermarket was built in 2011. The old cattle market, which was a big part of the farming trade, is no longer there. At 747 feet (228 metres) high, Penistone is one of the highest market towns in Yorkshire.
The new Market Cruck Barn opened in 2011. Penistone also hosts a monthly farmers' market on the second Saturday of each month.
Places of Worship
- Saint John the Baptist Church is a Church of England church.
Media and Entertainment
Television and Radio
Local news and TV shows for Penistone are provided by BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire.
Penistone has its own community radio station, Penistone FM, which started broadcasting in 2009 on 95.7 FM. Other local radio stations include BBC Radio Sheffield, Capital Yorkshire, Heart Yorkshire, and Hits Radio South Yorkshire.
Newspapers
The local newspaper that serves Penistone is the Barnsley Chronicle.
Sports and Fun
Penistone offers many sports and recreational activities:
- The local football team is Penistone Church F.C..
- Penistone Cricket and Sports Club.
- Penistone Paramount Cinema for movies.
- Penistone Gymnastics Club.
- Penistone Footpath Runners and Athletics Club.
- Penistone Bowling Club.
- Quest Taekwondo Penistone.
- Barnsley F.C. is the local professional football club.
Education
Penistone Grammar School
Penistone Grammar School is a very old school, founded way back in 1392! Famous former students include Nicholas Saunderson, a brilliant blind mathematician. Most of the old school buildings were replaced with a new school in 2011. Other local schools include St John's Primary School, Spring Vale Primary School, and Thurlstone Primary School.
Events in Penistone
Penistone hosts several fun events throughout the year:
- Pancake Day: In the early 1900s, it was a tradition for the church to ring a "pancake bell" on Shrove Tuesday.
- March: Penistone Arts Weeks.
- June: The annual Penistone Mayor's Parade Weekend, which includes concerts, a parade, and a gala. The Penistone Folk Festival also takes place in June.
- August: On Yorkshire Day (August 1st), Penistone hosts a gathering of mayors and civic leaders from across Yorkshire. This day includes a church service, a parade, films, music, and exhibitions.
- September: Penistone Show is a big annual agricultural show held on the second Saturday of September. It features competitions for sheep, cows, goats, poultry, and also includes horticulture, handicraft, show jumping, and photography.
- September: Penistone's Annual Competitive Music Festival is held at Penistone Grammar School on the last Saturday of September.
Famous People from Penistone
- Kate Rusby, a well-known folk singer.
- Rolo Tomassi, an experimental rock band.
- Rachael McShane, a cellist from the folk band Bellowhead.
- John Stones, an international footballer for Manchester City.
- Chris Morgan, a footballer and former captain of Barnsley and Sheffield United.
- Marc Roberts, a footballer who plays for Barnsley F.C..
- Scott High, a footballer who plays for Huddersfield Town.
Fairtrade Town
On February 26, 2007, Penistone was officially recognized as a Fairtrade Town. This means the town supports fair trade, which helps farmers and workers in developing countries get a fair price for their goods.
Twin Town
Penistone is twinned with Grindavík, a town in Iceland.
Images for kids
-
The Penistone Paramount Cinema.
See also
In Spanish: Penistone para niños
