Regeneration
Whether you love browsing independent shops, watching the world go by over a latte, indulging in some planet-saving shopping or strolling in nature, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Penistone. Its a town with a rich history with its eyes firmly on the future.
Penistone has been a market town since medieval times. The market remains a bustling feature of the town to this day.
Nestled in the foothills of the Pennines, the town has a proud farming history. It provides a gateway to the Trans Pennine Trail: a favourite with walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Notable landmarks include the impressive Penistone Viaduct, St John the Baptist Church and the Penistone Paramount Cinema. Famous names linked with the town include early 20th century revolutionary Percy Toplis and current England international footballer John Stones, who played for Penistone Church FC.
What we've done
Find out more about what progress has been made across Penistone.
Penistone Town Hall
Roofing works have been completed at Penistone Town Hall to help conserve this valued community asset and make sure it can be used by generations to come.
We've completely replaced the roof and guttering of the historic building, which houses the Penistone Paramount Cinema amongst other local businesses and groups.
Work began at the start of August 2023 and was finished in January 2024, making sure the roof is fully watertight.
The new roof is made of reproduced Welsh slate, which is in keeping with the original materials.
The works at the art deco-style town hall were carried out by Barnsley company M.A.M.
They also installed extra roof timbers, new roof coverings, lead work, fascias, guttering and rainwater pipes.
Penistone sheep trail
Unveiled in November 2023, the Penistone Sheep is a public art trail aimed at bringing visitors flocking.
It features 11 granite sculptures of sheep. It includes those who are reading a book, roller-skating, ready to watch a film or enjoying a bike ride.
The trail is part of our work under the Principal Towns and Local Centres Programme. It encourages people to spend more time in their local high streets and inspire more visitors to come and explore what their local area has to offer.
Following consultation with local residents, businesses and community groups, artist Michael Disley was commissioned to shape 11 woolly new residents from natural granite for Penistone inspired by landmarks around the town.
The sheep trail is rooted in the heritage of Penistone, where sheep sales have been held for hundreds of years. The white faced woodland breed are also known as Penistone sheep.
As part of the project, Michael also held rock carving sessions with almost 100 children at four primary schools.
Penistone sheep art competition
We invited local children to draw a picture of their favourite sheep and suggest a name for their chosen cheerful character. Following a judging panel, our winners were presented with certificates congratulating them on their creativity.
Watch our video to find out more about the Penistone Sheep art competition winners.
Shopfront grants scheme
This initiative helped hundreds of businesses across Barnsley to refresh and update their signage and shopfronts.
In Penistone, 27 shops and businesses improved their premises with investment of £100,000 from us and £45,000 of match funding from business owners.
Public safety
New CCTV cameras have been installed to cover all areas of the town centre and reduce anti-social behaviour.
What we're doing next
Find out more about what’s coming up for Penistone:
Penistone Town Hall
Following the completion of roofing works at the Town Hall, there's a consultation with local elected members about the future development of the historic building.
Plans for the wider refurbishment of the building to extend its public use are at the design stage and subject to feasibility considerations.
More about Penistone
Penistone Market
Experience the heart of Penistone through the bustling market. It showcases new traders alongside stallholders who have been serving their loyal customers for decades.
The distinctive and centrally-located market barn hosts a market every Thursday and Saturday from 9am.
You can find fresh fruit 'n' veg, fish, artisan bread and delicious cheeses alongside homeware, handmade gifts and jewellery, animal treats, flowers, sweets, cards, hardware and key cutting services.
Our family-friendly up-and-coming market is also held regularly. It offers new and established businesses the chance to showcase their products and grow their profile. It has live music and free face-painting adding to the sense of occasion.
The attractive town centre also boasts a host of independent businesses. It ranges from butchers, delicatessens, cafes, craft beer sellers to fashion, lingerie and bridal wear shops.
Penistone Library
Penistone library is open Monday to Saturday. Find Penistone Library on High Street, Penistone, Sheffield, S36 6BR. Get directions on Google Maps.
Find out more about Penistone library and the facilities it offers.
Walking routes
Penistone has many scenic and countryside walking routes across the area.
Hear from our businesses and market traders
Penistone has a thriving and passionate business community. Its led by the Love Penistone traders' association.
Meet some of the entrepreneurs who have invested in Penistone in recent years - and some who have devoted decades to serving the town.
Business spotlight: Wool Monkey
Our independent businesses are vital to making sure Barnsley is a vibrant and welcoming place to shop and visit.
Meet Lou, whose yarn and wool shop Wool Monkey is a haven for crafters and creators, offering speciality products, free advice and workshops to help people develop their skills. She's proud to encourage people to explore her home town of Penistone.
Barnsley is a great place for entrepreneurship, establishing thriving start-ups and growing local businesses.
Watch our video to learn more about Lou's journey.
Business spotlight: Sewcial Sewing
Opening a shop in Barnsley was a dream come true for Claire, who runs her own fabric and haberdashery shop, Sewcial Sewing, in Penistone.
Claire built her business through a stall at Penistone Market Barn before launching her own shop on the high street, which has become a popular destination with crafters.
Our Barnsley markets are a great place to start and grow your business.
Watch our video to learn more about Claire's journey, or find out more about Barnsley 2030.
Business spotlight: All is Good
All is Good is a refill centre, gift shop and coffee shop in Penistone. It shows how sustainability can be at the centre of a successful business.
Owners Leanne Gill and Karen Close explain how Penistone has proved the ideal place to grow their sustainable business.
Watch our video to learn more about Leanne and Karen's journey.
Support for businesses
A range of support is available in Barnsley. It includes support and advice for those looking to start their own business and help with finding the right job for you.
Find out more from:
Get involved in the community
Get to know some of the dedicated people and groups contributing to the community's wellbeing.
Volunteering opportunities
You can find volunteering opportunities on the Barnsley CVS website, or contact your local area team.
Find out how to get started as a volunteer.
You can also follow Penistone Area Team on Facebook. We post photos of people taking part in projects like community clean-ups and bulb-planting, as well as upcoming activities you could get involved with. For more details, email penistoneteam@barnsley.gov.uk.
Organising your own events
We'd like to hear your ideas about how to improve where you live. You might even find other like-minded people in your area who'd be happy to get together to make improvements.
You can also apply for funding through your ward alliance for a project if you can show that it meets the local priorities for your area.
Your area team
Our area teams are at the heart of their communities. They organise, support and promote local events, and help people access council services and advice.
You can follow the Penistone Area Team on Facebook. They serve Penistone, Oxspring, Hoylandswaine, Thurgoland, Silkstone, Silkstone Common and Cawthorne, Hoyland.
Get to know the community
Penistone FM
Community radio station Penistone FM benefitted from a £4,500 grant under our Pride of Place grants scheme, which has supported more than 50 projects to enhance community facilities and the environment.
Penistone FM used their money to update their IT equipment and invest in training for new presenters.
Watch our video to find out about the impact the grant has had.
Ingbirchworth Pétanque Club
Sports club members have transformed their facilities thanks to a £6,500 helping hand from our Pride of Place grants scheme.
Ingbirchworth Pétanque Club successfully applied for a grant last year and spent the money on materials for a new wooden shelter. They've also installed new accessible footpaths around their playing areas.
Club members carried out all the works themselves, making their hilltop HQ near Penistone even more welcoming.
The pétanque club is one of more than 50 community groups and charities across Barnsley who have enhanced their facilities, services or their local environment with help the Pride of Place scheme. It was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Watch the video to find out about Ingbirchworth Pétanque Club's Pride of Place Grant.
Keeping your neighbourhood safe
Your local policing team
The Barnsley West neighbourhood policing team is responsible for crime prevention and community safety in Penistone.
You can meet the team, get in touch and find details of Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings on the neighbourhood policing team webpage.
Report crime and anti-social via the South Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101. Dial 999 in an emergency.
Neighbourhood wardens
Our neighbourhood wardens are working hard in our communities to combat environmental crime and anti-social behaviour, but they rely on your help and support.
I'd like to be kept informed
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