Staplehurst is a large village and civil parish in the borough of Maidstone in Kent, England, south of the town of Maidstone. The name Staplehurst comes from the Saxon words maple and hurst. The village lies on the route of a Roman road, which is now incorporated into the course of the A229.
Size and situation
There are approximately 2,600 households and 6,000 residents, a population similar to that of some small towns. The parish includes the village of Hawkenbury. However, Staplehurst lacks the feel of a town and urban facilities such as a leisure centre or a supermarket, although planning permission has been granted for the latter. There are a number of local shops in the Parade, roughly at the centre of the village, and one public house, the King's Head. It also has a small library and a newly built two-million-pound medical centre for doctors and dentists. The building of the medical centre on a school field enabled the school to have a large sports hall built. In recent years Hush Heath Estate has gained renown for award-winning pink sparkling wine.
History
In the early 19th century, Staplehurst was often visited by invalids seeking recuperation, especially those from Romney Marsh and East Kent, apparently attracted by the purity of the air. The Staplehurst rail crash, in 1865, is a significant event in the history of the village. Charles Dickens, 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. Staplehurst was also the centre of police investigations following the Securitas depot robbery in 2006.
The 12th-century Anglican parish church, All Saints', is located at the highest point in the village. It belongs to the Diocese of Canterbury. It is a Grade I listed building. The village also has a United Reformed Church, a Free church and a Strict Baptist 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 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 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 and were a continuation of the old Spilshill church that was formed around 1640. In 1838 the building was sold to the Particular Baptists. The Free Church began in 1969 when a group began meeting for worship in homes throughout the village. 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.
