Copyright Kent Past 2010
Kent Past
The History of Kent
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History of Staple
Staple comes from the Old English word ‘stapol’ meaning a ‘post, pillar’; therefore,
a ‘post’, and due to the positioning of the church, adjacent to the old parish boundary,
it suggests a boundary-
Staple parish church is a Grade: I listed building, dedicated to Saint James the
Great. Built in the 14th century its origins date back to the Saxon period. Joanna
Hille cast and hung a bell in the 15th century; John Hatch then cast a tenor in 1623,
with two trebles added by John Hodson in 1680. Edward Hasted describes the church
in his topographical survey of 1800 as consisting of ‘two isles and two chancels,
having a tower steeple at the west end, in which are four bells. The church is remarkably
long and low. The south isle and chancel are upon the same level, nor is there any
separation between them. On the sides of the chancel are rails, very low, about two
feet from the wall, very unusual.’ George Edmund Street completed restoration work
in 1868, creating a pervading atmosphere.
In the mid 1550's, John Bland, Vicar of Staple, and a fervent believer in the protestant
faith came to the attention of Queen Mary, who ordered him to be burnt at the stake
in Martyr's Field, Canterbury in July 1555.
Lady Lynch of Groves donated a second
hand clock, with only the hour hand, to the Staple church in 1789. It fell into disrepair
before World War II, and after appeals for funds, clock expert Bernars Hawkins and
his son restored it to working order, free of charge. The clock received a new dial
in 1961. Ken Smith designed and manufactured an electrified winding mechanism, which
the (then) Bishop of Dover, the Rev. Richard Llewelyn dedicated in July 1993.
Staple
railway station opened on the East Kent Light Railway’s line in October 1916. Unfortunately,
passenger numbers did not reach expectations due to the stations distance from the
village, and it closed to this source of traffic in November 1948. Further reductions
in freight traffic resulted in complete closure of the station in March 1951, and
termination of the line in December 1987.