Penistone Shepherd's Castle

Has been described as a Questionable Uncertain

There are no visible remains

NamePenistone Shepherd's Castle
Alternative NamesCastle Green
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityBarnsley
1974 AuthoritySouth Yorkshire
Civil ParishPenistone

On higher ground, in Castle Green is SHEPHERD"S CASTLE FARM, adjacent one house called Castlemere. (Sneyd 1995)

A prehistoric earthwork known as Shepherds Castle (which gave its name to Penistone's Castle Green) marked the boundary between Oxspring and Hunshelf townships where the common of Roughbirchworth met that of Snowdon Hill. The earthwork was about 120 yards in diameter, but has being mostly ploughed out except on the western side. (Hey 2002)

Gatehouse Comments

There are a number of 'castle' place-name in this area (Castle Green; Castle Dike; Castle Lane). 'Shepherd's Castle' and 'Castle Green' seem to appear as placenames in C17 deeds. It may have existed as a residence of the Wordsworth family in the C16. Nothing is recorded in the archaeological databases and no earthwork is shown on OS maps. Gatehouse is unable to confirm the suggestion made by Hey that this was the site of a pre-historic earthwork, although that suggestion is not dismissed.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSE253025
Latitude53.5190505981445
Longitude-1.61875998973846
Eastings425370
Northings402550
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • David Hey, 2002, A History of Penistone and District (Wharncliffe Books)
  • Sneyd, Steve, 1995, The Devil's Logbook Castles and Fortified Sites around South Yorkshire (Hilltop Press) p. 14
  • Dransfield, John Ness, 1906, A History of the Parish of Penistone p. 193-4 online copy