Staplehurst is a beautiful and historic village located on the Roman road between Maidstone and Hawkhurst. There are a number of very old buildings, some dating back to the 11th century, before the magnificent parish church (All Saints) was built. Staplehurst is most famous for two things – one is the historic South Door on All Saints church, which predates the church (it has been authoritatively dated to 1050) It displays some of the oldest ironwork in England, depicting a story from Norse mythology.
The other historic fact about the village is the serious railway accident of 1865, when the Folkestone to London boat train was derailed just outside the village. A length of track had been removed during engineering works, and the man with the red flag was not stationed far enough away from the stretch of track to enable the train to stop. Forty people were injured, 10 fatally. Charles Dickens was famously travelling on the train at the time, luckily he was uninjured, and he tended to many of the casualties. Dickens was greatly affected by the tragedy though, and died five years to the day afterwards, his son saying he never really recovered after the shock.
To this day the railway is important to the village, and many residents enjoy the benefits of living in this beautiful and peaceful part of Kent, while still working in London. The pandemic of course has affected this to some extent, but it also encouraged people from more populated areas to seek some fresh air surrounded by nature, and the village has grown quite rapidly in recent years. The mix of “country folk” and commuter villagers works well and adds to the vibrancy of village life.
Staplehurst enjoys a great sense of community. It is a very friendly village, outsiders are welcomed for the fresh experiences they bring, and people soon feel at home and make new friends. Our one remaining pub, The Kings Head, placed conveniently opposite the parish church (rumour has it that workers who built the church lived at the Kings Head while construction was ongoing), offers a warm welcome for villagers and visitors alike. The bellringers, particularly, enjoy some refreshment after an hour or so of ringing practice on a Tuesday evening!
There are many thriving community groups in the village, from the WI, to the Mothers’ Union, and more recently, the Men’s Shed has offered an outlet for those who aren’t so interested in flowers or cakes! There are walking groups, running groups, football and cricket teams. Children are also catered for with Scouts, Beavers, Venture scout groups, Brownies and Guides. There is a community choir who perform regularly in the village and surrounding areas, a photographic society and a historical society, to name just a few of the wide-ranging interests catered for in quite a small village.
But what really makes Staplehurst special are its people. Rarely do you pass anyone in the street without a smile and a greeting. Often you see people stopping to pass the time of day on the high street or outside the shops. SHCC is proud to match the values of the villagers, and to be based in the heart of Staplehurst
