Stalisfield is a village in the borough of

Swale Swale or Swales may refer to: Topography * Swale (landform), a low tract of land ** Bioswale, landform designed to remove silt and pollution ** Swales, found in the formation of Hummocky cross-stratification Geography * River Swale, in North ...

in Kent, England, located on a secondary road about 1½ miles (2.4 km) north of

Charing Charing is a village and civil parish in the Ashford District of Kent, in south-east England. It includes the settlements of Charing Heath and Westwell Leacon. It is located at the foot of the North Downs and reaches up to the escarpment. T ...

and 5 miles south west of Faversham. The parish includes the hamlet of Stalisfield Green. Stalisfield Green lies high on the North Downs (a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), some 650 feet above sea level, and close to the escarpment above

History

It was once anciently called 'Starchfield'. It is called in the Domesday survey 'Stanefelle', which means Stonefield. At the time of the Domesday survey the village belonged to Odo, Earl of Kent, (as the

Bishop of Bayeux The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bayeux and Lisieux (Latin: ''Dioecesis Baiocensis et Lexoviensis''; French: ''Diocèse de Bayeux et Lisieux'') is a diocese of the Catholic Church in France. It is coextensive with the Department of Calvados and is ...

). After Odo's trial for fraud the village was passed to Adam de Port. Then it passed (along with Oare) to Arnulf Kade, who gave it to the Knights Hospitallers. In 1545 it passed to

Sir Anthony St. Leger Sir Anthony St Leger, KG (or Sellenger; 1496 – 16 March 1559), of Ulcombe and Leeds Castle in Kent, was an English politician and Lord Deputy of Ireland during the Tudor period. Origins Anthony St Leger was the eldest son of Ralph II St Le ...

. It was then sold in 1551 to Sir Anthony Aucher (the father of

Anthony Aucher Sir Anthony Aucher, 1st Baronet (1614 – 31 May 1692) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660. He supported the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. Aucher was the son of Sir Anthony Aucher (c. 1586–1637) an ...

). In 1567 it was sold to Sir Nicholas Salter. In 1699 it was sold to Mr Richard Webbe, of Eleham. In 1711 it passed to dame Sarah Barrett, widow of Sir Paul Barrett,( serjeant-at-law). Sarah was married to

Sir Richard Head, 1st Baronet Sir Richard Head, 1st Baronet (ca. 1609 – 18 September 1689) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1667 to 1679. Head was the son of Richard Head, of Rochester, and his wife Anne Hartridge, daughter of William Hartridge ...

's son Francis Head. Her grandson, Sir Francis Head, then inherited the manor. His brother, Sir John Head, inherited after his death in 1768. Sir John died in 1769, and his widow Lady Jane Head took control. In 1780 she died and it passed to William Lynch (her great-grandson). It then carried on in his family. Also in the parish is Darbies Court. In 1445 John Darbie, who was alderman of London, and sheriff, was the owner. In 1399 Sir Ralph St. Leger, of Otterden (Sir Anthony St. Leger), became the owner. In 1798 the Right Hon. Lewis Thomas Watson, 2nd Baron Sondes, was the owner. The house still exists as Derbies Court, a

Grade II listed In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

building. The church of Ore was anciently recorded as the chapel to the parish, but it has been long since separated, and has become a distinct church independent of it. In the 13th century the church of St Mary was built, in the diocese of Canterbury, and deanery of Ospringe. It is Grade II* listed.

Present day

The village is notable for its public house, 'the Plough Inn, Stalisfield'. Built between 1350 and 1450, it is a fine example of a Wealden

hall house The hall house is a type of vernacular house traditional in many parts of England, Wales, Ireland and lowland Scotland, as well as northern Europe, during the Middle Ages, centring on a hall. Usually timber-framed, some high status examples wer ...

and is Grade II listed. The pub serves only Kentish beers and ciders from traditional hand pumps; it regularly featuring ales from Hopdaemon (from Syndale Vinyard Newnham), Gadds (

Ramsgate Ramsgate is a seaside resort, seaside town in the district of Thanet District, Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century. In 2001 it had a population of about 40,000. In 2011, according to t ...

) and Goachers ( Maidstone). In 2009, it was awarded 'Kent's best pub' by 'Produced in Kent' and in 2018 was a finalist in the national Freehold Pub of the Year. It is the only true local pub in Kent with 2 AA rosettes for excellence in food. In October 2014 a new village hall was opened adjacent to the village green, replacing the old wooden WW1 Officer's Mess Hut which was relocated to the village from Throwley Airfield after the end of the war. New hall edit

References

External links

{{authority control Villages in Kent Civil parishes in Kent