Staplehurst is a town and
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authorit ...
in the
borough of Maidstone
The Borough of Maidstone is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. Its administrative centre is Maidstone, the county town of Kent.
The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of M ...
in
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
, England, south of the town of
Maidstone
Maidstone is the largest town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it wi ...
and with a population of 6,003. The town lies on the route of a
Roman road, which is now incorporated into the course of the
A229
A, or a, is the first Letter (alphabet), letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, Latin alphabet, used in the English alphabet, modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name ...
. The name Staplehurst comes from the Old English 'stapol' meaning a 'post, pillar' and 'hyrst', as a 'wooded hill'; therefore, 'wooded-hill at a post', a possible reference to a boundary marker at the position of All Saints' church atop the hill along the road from
Maidstone
Maidstone is the largest town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it wi ...
to
Cranbrook. The parish includes the hamlet of
Hawkenbury.
History
The first written mention of Staplehurst was in 1242 in a Tax list, whilst All Saints' Church is believed to date back to the 12th century. The town was initially a series of hamlets and farmsteads set around local manors including Loddenden Manor, which still stands as a private residence in the heart of the town and dates back to the 16th century. With time these hamlets became joined up to form the town.
In the early 19th century, Staplehurst was often visited by invalids seeking recuperation, especially those from
Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about . The Marsh has been in use for centuries, though its inhabitants commonly suffered from malaria until th ...
and East Kent, apparently attracted by the purity of the air.
The
Staplehurst rail crash
The Staplehurst rail crash was a derailment at Staplehurst, Kent, on 9 June 1865 at 3:13 pm. The South Eastern Railway Folkestone to London boat train derailed while crossing a viaduct where a length of track had been removed during eng ...
, in 1865, is a significant event in the history of the town.
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...
, who was on board, was uninjured, but affected by the incident for the rest of his life.
In 2003, Staplehurst won the Kent Village of the Year Competition.
Elderden Farm near Staplehurst was also the centre of police investigations following the
Securitas depot robbery
The 2006 robbery of Securitas depot in Tonbridge, England, was the UK's largest cash robbery. It began with a kidnapping on the evening of 21 February and ended in the early hours of 22 February, when seven criminals stole almost £53million. ...
in 2006.
Governance
Staplehurst is governed by Staplehurst
Parish Council,
Maidstone Borough Council
Maidstone is the largest town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it wit ...
, and
Kent County Council, the Chairman of which is Councillor Tom Burnham.
Culture and community
Religion
The 12th-century
Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...
,
All Saints'
All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints of the church, whether they are kn ...
, is located at the highest point in the town. It belongs to the
Diocese of Canterbury
The Diocese of Canterbury is a Church of England diocese covering East Kent, eastern Kent which was founded by St. Augustine of Canterbury in 597. The diocese is centred on Canterbury Cathedral and is the oldest episcopal see, see of the Church o ...
. It is a Grade I
listed building
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 ...
. The town also has a
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church (URC) is a Protestant Christian church in the United Kingdom. As of 2022 it has approximately 40,000 members in 1,284 congregations with 334 stipendiary ministers.
Origins and history
The United Reformed Church resulte ...
, a
Free church
A free church is a Christian denomination that is intrinsically separate from government (as opposed to a state church). A free church does not define government policy, and a free church does not accept church theology or policy definitions fr ...
and a
Strict Baptist
Reformed Baptists (sometimes known as Particular Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists) are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation). The first Calvinist Baptist church was formed in the 1630s. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith w ...
chapel.
The United Reformed Church was formerly a
Congregational church before the merger with the Presbyterians in 1972. The first pastor was Daniel Poyntell, who had been the
Rector
Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to:
Style or title
*Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations
*Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...
of Staplehurst Parish Church until he was ejected from the Church of England in 1662 for nonconformity. During his pastorship, and for many years afterwards, it was a
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
church. The foundation of the present building was laid in 1825.
The Strict Baptist chapel has been used a place of worship for
Baptists since 1751, apparently having previously been used as a barn. The original congregation were
General Baptists
General Baptists are Baptists who hold the ''general'' or unlimited atonement view, the belief that Jesus Christ died for the entire world and not just for the chosen elect. General Baptists are theologically Arminian, which distinguishes them from ...
and were a continuation of the old Spilshill church that was formed around 1640. In 1838 the building was sold to the
Particular Baptists
Reformed Baptists (sometimes known as Particular Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists) are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation). The first Calvinist Baptist church was formed in the 1630s. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith w ...
.
The Free Church began in 1969 when a group began meeting for worship in homes throughout the town. The first church building was purchased in 1975 and the old Village Hall was purchased in 1989. The church was demolished in 2006 to make way for a new building which was completed in December 2012.
Education
Staplehurst School, the village primary school, is located on Gybbon Rise, near the town centre shops. Around 440 pupils are taught in 18 classrooms. The school was originally housed in the stone buildings off the A229 and moved to the new site when the population of the village grew in the 1980s. The old school then became the village community centre. The village also has a small library.
Transport
Staplehurst railway station
Staplehurst railway station is on the South Eastern Main Line in England, serving the village of Staplehurst, Kent. It is down the line from London Charing Cross . The station and all trains that serve the station are operated by Southeaster ...
is on the
South Eastern Main Line
The South Eastern Main Line is a major long-distance railway route in South East England, UK, one of the three main routes crossing the county of Kent, going via Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Ashford and Folkestone to Dover. The other routes are the ...
from
Ashford International railway station
Ashford International railway station is a National Rail station in Ashford, Kent, England. It connects several railway lines, including High Speed 1 and the South Eastern Main Line. Services are operated by Southeastern and Southern.
The stat ...
to
London Charing Cross and
London Cannon Street
Cannon Street station, also known as London Cannon Street, is a central London railway terminus and connected London Underground station in Travelcard zone 1 located on Cannon Street in the City of London and managed by Network Rail. It is ...
, via
Tonbridge
Tonbridge ( ) is a market town in Kent, England, on the River Medway, north of Royal Tunbridge Wells, south west of Maidstone and south east of London. In the administrative borough of Tonbridge and Malling, it had an estimated populat ...
. It is also the main station for commuters from
Cranbrook,
Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst is village and civil parish in the borough of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. The village is located close to the border with East Sussex, around south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells and within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Nat ...
,
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst is a small village in the borough of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. Originally called ''Milkhouse Street'' (also referred to as ''Mylkehouse''), Sissinghurst changed its name in the 1850s, possibly to avoid association with the smu ...
and other nearby villages. Before the completion of
High Speed 1, the line was also used by
Eurostar
Eurostar is an international high-speed rail service connecting the United Kingdom with France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Most Eurostar trains travel through the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and France, owned and operate ...
trains.
Sport and Recreation
Staplehurst Monarchs Football Club, founded in 1893, compete in the
Southern Counties East Football League
The Southern Counties East Football League is an English football league established in 1966, which has teams based in Kent and Southeast London. Until 2013, it was known as the Kent League. There was a previous Kent League, that existed from ...
, whilst the club also has junior and women's teams. The club plays at Jubilee Field in the village.
The village is also home to the thriving Staplehurst Cricket and Tennis club which has 450 members.
Economy
Whilst Staplehurst has transport links to London, Maidstone and
Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in Kent, England, southeast of central London. It lies close to the border with East Sussex on the northern edge of the High Weald, whose sandstone geology is exemplified by the rock formation High Rocks. T ...
, it is also home to a number of local businesses located in the industrial park near the station as well as the headquarters of electrical engineering firm Magnetic Shields in the north of the town.
Towards the south of the town the parade and historic 'Town Heart' is home to a number of eateries and independent shops including a butcher, wine retailer, optician, hairdressers, local gift shop, and a public house dating back to the 18th century, the ''King's Head''.
In recent years local vineyard Hush Heath Estate has gained renown for award-winning pink sparkling wine.
English Wine Producers. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
/ref>
Notable people
* Reginald Poynton Baker (1896–1985), movie producer, owner of Loddenden Manor until 1954.
*Robert Gregg Bury
Robert Gregg Bury (22 March 1869 – 11 February 1951) was an Irish clergyman, classicist, philologist, and a translator of the works of Plato and Sextus Empiricus into English.
Early life and education
Born in Clontibret, County Monaghan, ...
(1869–1951), clergyman and classicist, curate at All Saints' Church (1895–98).
* Charlie Cramp (1876–1933), trade unionist and Labour Party activist, was born in Staplehurst.
* Chris Etheridge (living), ten-time British sidecarcross champion.
*Harry Hill
Matthew Keith Hall (born 1 October 1964), known professionally as Harry Hill, is an English comedian, presenter and writer. He pursued a career in stand-up following years working as a medical doctor, developing an off-beat, energetic performan ...
(born 1964), comedian, grew up in Staplehurst, attending Staplehurst Primary School, High Weald Academy
The High Weald Academy was a coeducational secondary school that opened in 1971 located in Cranbrook, Kent, England.
The academy permanently closed in September 2022, with all the pupils from Year 7 to Year 10 offered places at Mascalls Acade ...
and Cranbrook School.
*William Malim
William Malim (1533–1594) was an English academic, schoolmaster and Neo-Latin author.
Life
Malim was born at Staplehurst in Kent. He was educated at Eton College, and went on to King's College, Cambridge, where he was admitted a scholar, 14 Augu ...
(1533–1594), academic, schoolmaster and writer in Latin, was born in Staplehurst.
*Nigel McGuinness
Steven Haworth (born 23 January 1976), better known by his ring name Nigel McGuinness, is an English actor, professional wrestling commentator and retired professional wrestler.
He is best known for his time with WWE where he worked as a color ...
(born 1976), former professional wrestler, grew up in Staplehurst.
* Gordon Thomson (1884–1953), Olympic rower (1908), died in Staplehurst.
References
External links
Staplehurst Parish Council Web Site
{{authority control
Villages in Kent
Civil parishes in Kent