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A brief history of Penistone
The meaning of Penistone is Old English tun "farm, village" and possibly the Celtic penn meaning hill - similar to Penn in the West Midlands.
Records of the name as Penstun (1143) and Penstone (n.d.) prove the second element is Old English tun "farm, village" (not Old English stan, stone, as might be suggested).
The history of Penistone can be dated back to 1066 when it was known to be owned by Ailric. However, following the Norman Conquest it was razed to the ground in 1069 in what became known as the Harrying of the North; the Domesday Book described the settlement in 1089 as 'wasted'.
The town was of little importance until the coming of the railway in 1845 and over time it became a major junction with an engineering depot.
Several pre-19th Century buildings still survive, the oldest being the Grade I listed mediaeval parish church, Saint John the Baptist Church; the White Hart pub in the town dates from 1377.
St. John's Church
Click here to see a 360°QTVR view of the churchyard and town centre.
More pictures and views will appear soon.
Click here or on the picture for a flattened, panoramic version (picture opens in a new window).
Interesting carvings and sculpture can be found throughout the church ranging from the Saxon to the modern.
Above left: St.John the Baptist boss.
Above left: Saxon corbel
John the Baptist (2002) by Peter Eugene Ball (detail on the right).
More of this artist's work can be found on his website:
http://www.petereball.com
Penistone Viaduct
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The railway first came to Penistone in 1845 and in 1850 the Huddersfield-Penistone line was opened, crossing the 29-arch viaduct.
Click either the picture or here to see a flat panoramic view which will open in a new window.
The 1916 collapse
In February 1916 one of the pillars at the end of the viaduct collapsed into the River Don, taking two arches and a locomotive with it.
Fortunately the engine was stationary at the time and the collapse slow enough for the crew to jump to saftey.
The line was closed for 6 months. Amazingly, the locomotive was recovered, repaired and was in service for another 25 years.