Staverton developed near a crossing point of the Bristol Avon, on a road between Trowbridge and Holt.

[4] An Ordnance Survey map of 1958 shows only the school and roadside dwellings south of the village, between the railway and the canal.

[9] The Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway was opened through the parish on 2 September 1848, linking the Great Western Main Line at Thingley Junction with Trowbridge and Westbury, and forming a route from London to southwest England.

A victim of the Beeching cuts, the halt closed on 16 April 1966 along with the three other stations between Chippenham and Trowbridge then still extant.

A chapel of ease at Staverton was recorded in the 14th century, belonging to the church of St James at Trowbridge.

The chapel dedicated to St Paul was rebuilt and enlarged on the same site, above the Avon, in 1826;[12] the style of the small limestone building with a low west tower is described as "naïve Tudor" by Orbach.

It is in the area of Wiltshire Council unitary authority, which is responsible for all significant local government functions.