What is "staplehurst"

Staplehurst can mean:

• Staplehurst in England
• RAF Staplehurst, a World War II airfield in England
• Staplehurst railway station
• Staplehurst rail crash, a railway accident in 1865
• Staplehurst, Nebraska, a small village in the United States

Staplehurst is a large village and civil parish, situated south of Maidstone in Kent, England. The name Staplehurst comes from the Saxon words staple (meaning post) and hurst (meaning wood or clearing in a forest). The village lies on the route of a Roman road, which is now incorporated into the course of the A229.

There are approximately 2,600 households and 6,000 residents, a population that brings the village on par with some small towns. However, Staplehurst does not have the large facilities, like a supermarket although planning permission has been granted to build one,and leisure centre or the feel of a town. There are a number of local shops at the Parade, which lies 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 which contains numerous doctors and dentists. The building of the medical centre on the school field enabled the school to have a large sports hall built. During the last few years Hush Heath Estate has become renowned for its pink sparkling wine which has won awards.