The name Cople is derived from the phrase Cock Pool, a place where chickens were kept, that was mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The centre of Cople is dominated by All Saints Church, originally built soon after 1087 by the de Beauchamp family and which later became part of Chicksands Priory.

All Saints Church was rebuilt in the 15th century, some parts of it a little earlier, by the families who owned the local manors.

One of the manors within the parish of Cople was Rowlands, acquired by the Spencer family in 1531 and held by them for several centuries.

Spencer family members continued to reside in Cople and its environs for many years afterward.