A wooden lychgate with a simple tiled roof stands on the grounds of the Church of St James in Staple, about ten metres south of the church. It is a Grade II* listed building. Its approximate location, timber framing and roof shape make the gate a distinctive introduction to Staple’s architectural heritage.
Churches and historic buildings
St James in Staple is essentially a church dating from the early 14th century. Its furnishings include an octagonal font in the Perpendicular style. The bowl bears symbols of the Evangelists; wild men and lions adorn the stem. The construction date and furnishings offer different perspectives: the date places the church building in context, while the font’s shape, style and imagery characterise it as a distinctive art-historical detail.
Crixhall Court is a house dating from the 16th and early 17th centuries. Compared with St James, it offers a different historical and architectural emphasis: here, domestic architecture is set against a church dating essentially from the early 14th century. Those interested in architectural history can organise these themes by building type and period.
Circular walks, wine and a June event
There are several circular walks starting from the Church of St James, within a radius of three kilometres and slightly beyond. This complements the architectural and church-related themes with a separate option for getting active; the different distances help you choose according to the range you have in mind. If you want to get out and about, you can include the walks as a separate part of your day’s plans.
At Barnsole Vineyard, the focus is on the connection between growing and production: grapes grown on site are made into wine in a purpose-built winery. Visitors can tour the vineyards and see how the wine is made; a wine tasting is offered afterwards. There is also a 20-minute mini wine tour. These two details offer different emphases: the mini tour is defined by its duration, while the visit combines growing and production with a tasting afterwards. Check the current details of the visitor offer before planning your visit.
The Staple Country & Craft Fayre takes place every year on the penultimate Sunday in June. So if you are planning a visit around the Fayre, the specific Sunday matters, not just the month. Check the date again before finalising your travel plans.
Choose the focus of your trip
The themes differ primarily in their format when planning your trip: church and architectural history can be explored through several buildings and details; the Fayre is an annual event held on a specific Sunday in June; and Barnsole Vineyard combines growing, production and tasting in a visitor experience. If you are looking for accommodation in Staple, first decide which of these themes will shape your trip and whether a fixed date will determine when you travel.
Discover more destinations: Northfleet, Marden, Barham, Hunton, Kingsdown, Sutton Valence, Vigo Village, Kings Hill
Go to the main travel overview: Kent.
