It is situated just east of Maylandsea and Mayland, on the southern side of the River Blackwater estuary.

A hamlet, within the village of Steeple, on the banks of the River Blackwater is called Stansgate.

The original parish church of St Lawrence, located 600 yards (550 m) west of the present building,[2] was destroyed by fire.

[3][4] On the west side of the village, there is a former chapel building of the Peculiar People, built in 1877.

[7] The village has been home to several generations of the Benn family, who were created Viscounts Stansgate in 1942, since about 1900.