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Use the links below to navigate to your topic of interest. Alternatively, pop 'kettle on, get your Yorkshire Tea brewing, get yoursen' comfy and read everything you need to know about Penistone.

Contents

Introduction to Penistone
History of Penistone
Transport
Schools in Penistone
Things to do in Penistone
Penistone's Annual Events
 

Introduction to Penistone

So you're thinking of moving to Penistone? We've put together a little article for you to try and persuade you to do so! You may find out a few things about Penistone that you never knew even if you've lived here for years.

Penistone, South Yorkshire is an old market town located on the A628 (Manchester Road), conveniently located in the middle of Sheffield, Leeds, and Manchester. By car, each city is between 30 and 45 minutes away and you're just a quick 10-minute drive junction 35 of the M1. This makes Penistone an ideal place to live if you regularly travel around the country.

The location is great if you have just found yourself now having to work from home, too. The lockdown imposed on us from the Covid-19 pandemic changed the way homeowners and tenants alike appreciate their homes. We now seek to have more outside space, we don't want to spend as long commuting and we want to live in a peaceful area. If you have found yourself, like millions of others, having to work from home - then you will most probably be looking for a house with an additional reception room, study, or spare bedroom to convert into a study or office. Penistone and its surrounding areas boast some fabulous properties that tick all these boxes.

It's not just the properties here that tick all the boxes, Penistone itself is highly renowned throughout South Yorkshire as a great place to live. It has something for everyone - great schools, vibrant nightlife, plenty of shopping, lots of outdoor activities on your doorstep, community events held throughout the year, lots of activities for the kids, and more!

History of Penistone

Let's go back - right back to 1066, a date many will instantly recognise! In case you aren't aware of this pivotal moment in time - this is when the Norman King, William The Conqueror, defeated the English army in the battle of Hastings on the 14th October 1066. Even though the village was said to have been originally founded around 1143, the Normans burnt Penistone to the ground. Penistone was even mentioned in the Doomsday Book in 1089 as "wasted"! 

The town was re-born with the development of railway lines around 1845. Due to the location of Penistone on the junction between Sheffield, Manchester and Huddersfield, the town THRIVED. The population of Penistone in 1851 was just 381 and increased to 7,149 by 1861. It has always been known as a popular market town. John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales mentioned the market in his description of Penistone (1870-72): 
 

"...a weekly market on Thursday, and fairs on the Thursday before 28 Feb., the last Thursday of March, the Thursday before 12 May, the Thursday after 11 Oct., and the Tuesday before the first Saturday of Nov."
 

Some of the oldest buildings in Penistone include the Grade I Listed St John the Baptist Church (dating back to around 1200) and the White Heart Pub (dating back to 1377) - Now known as "The New Inn".

Transport

Penistone is IDEALLY located for commuters working in Sheffield, Leeds or Manchester. We've put together some distances for you to get an idea of just how close you are to the major cities...

Distance from Penistone to Manchester by Car: 30 Miles / 54 Minutes 
Distance from Penistone to Manchester by Train: 1 hour 19 Minutes

Distance from Penistone to Sheffield by Car: 14 Miles / 30 Minutes
Distance from Penistone to Sheffield by Train: 45 Minutes

Distance from Penistone to Leeds by Car: 26 Miles / 35 Minutes
Distance from Penistone to Leeds by Train: 1 hour 12 Minutes

Distance from Penistone to Manchester Airport by car: 35 Miles / 50 Minutes
Distance from Penistone to Manchester Airport by train: 1 Hour 54 Minutes (One change)

Schools in Penistone

One of the most desirable aspects of Penistone are the schools. It's an ideal place to bring up your children - not just because of the vast outdoor space right on your doorstep, but the schools are highly renowned, too! Here's some information on local schools with links to their Ofsted ratings. We understand if you're moving home with a family, you need to know that you're moving to an area with the best schools around!

Nurseries in Penistone

Rascalz - Ofsted Rating Good.
Childs Play - Ofsted Rating Outstanding.
Busy Bees - Ofsted Rating Outstanding.

Primary Schools in Penistone 

St John The Baptist Primary School - Ofsted Rating Outstanding.
Thurgoland Church Of England - Ofsted Rating Outstanding.
Thurlstone Primary School - Ofsted Rating Outstanding.
Millhouse Primary School - Ofsted Rating Good.

(The above Ofsted Ratings are accurate as of 04/09/2021.)

Secondary Schools in Penistone

Penistone Grammar School - Ofsted Rating Good.
One of the oldest institutions in the area - Penistone Grammar School has recently undergone a massive expansion and is regarded as one of the most successful secondary schools in the area.

Colleges in Penistone

Barnsley College is highly regarded and offers A-Levels as well as adult learning courses. It is just a 25-minute drive from Penistone or a 16-minute short hop on the train. There are also regular busses.

Things to do in Penistone

We'll try to keep this as brief as possible just to give you an insight into the plethora of things to do and places to visit in and around Penistone. Firstly, Penistone is certainly well-known for its' access to walking and cycling trails. We have the Trans Pennine Trail right on our doorstep. This trail actually runs all the way from Southport on the West Coast of England to Hornsea on the West Coast of England! If you really want to get a "lay of the land", we would highly recommend walking, jogging or cycling the "Penistone Boundary Walk". Here's a handy map of the route created by Visit Penistone.

Cannon Hall is a great place to visit with the family - It has beautiful open spaces with ponds as well as a museum petting farm, farm shop, garden centre and child-friendly cafe.

Penistone Grammar School and Penistone Leisure Centre offer some fantastic sports facilities.

Penistone has its' very own cinema - Penistone Paramount.

The Underbank Activity Centre offers all the outdoor activities and adventures you could ask for! This is located in Stocksbridge, just a few minutes drive from Penistone.

The closest Swimming Baths are located in Stocksbridge. Click here for their swimming timetable. Penistone also has its' own private swimming pool (Aqua with Ashleigh) - offering private swimming lessons and fitness classes. We also have the Barnsley Metrodome just a 30-minute drive away. This is a fun-packed place with a wave pool, slides, diving boards and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Penistone has its very own Bowling Club. If you're thinking about moving home and you hope to move to an area that has an active Bowls community then check out Penistone Bowls Club.

There's a Softplay area which is great for Birthdays. Jelly Tots Softplay is located in Cubley - within walking distance from just about anywhere in Penistone. Once the kids are tired out from running wild there, you can hop just across the road to Cubley Hall for a quick pint! Cubley Hall has a child's play area there too, just in case they have any energy left to burn off.

Penistone's Annual Events

If you're looking to move to an area with a friendly and vibrant community that plays host to events throughout the year, then you've found the right place! Here are some events in Penistone held annually...

Penistone Agricultural Show - The largest One-Day Show in Yorkshire. Definitely the biggest date in Penistone's diary every year! The show lasts all day and has activities and events running throughout the day. These include contests, demonstrations, shows, tasting sessions and more. Visit their website for more details. It's also a great opportunity for local businesses and producers to showcase their services and products to the public.

Bonfire Night - Held on the showground each year behind Tesco.

Penistone Gala - Usually held on the show fields but in 2021, it was held in various locations around Penistone. A brilliant day, fantastic for the kids, you really see the town come alive!

Penistone Oktoberfest - Held in the Market Barn at the end of August. Say "Auf Wiedersehen" to Lockdown...and "Guten Tag" to Bier und Würst!

Penistone Tractor Run - Held around 3rd October of each year. This year (2021), they are raising money for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice. Dozens of tractors (old and new) take a route through Penistone and surrounding areas, ending up on a showground just off Penistone Road leading to Huddersfield where there's usually a beer tent, bouncy castle and food stalls. Expect Road Delays!

Christmas Lights Switch On in Penistone - Usually around the 4th of December.

Penistone Mayors Parade - Usually held in June. Features floats made by local community groups.

The End

We hope you enjoyed reading about Penistone and what our lovely town has to offer. If you have any suggestions of activities or events, etc. to be included on this page then please email info@butcherez.co.uk.