Under the Staple, the designated port was often overseas. It was at
Dordrecht in 1338, and at
Bruges in 1343. For a time after 1353, staple ports were established in England, under the
Statute of the Staple: thus various English localities named "
Stapleton" or "
Stapleford". However, from 1363,
Calais was designated the staple port for wool and leather exports. All wool sold overseas was taken first to Calais, then under English control. Under this system, Calais itself was called "the Staple". The trade was dominated by the
Merchants of the Staple who, from 1363, had been granted the exclusive right to trade raw wool in Calais. ==References==