St. Peters Church Staple Fitzpaine before Restoration. Water colour by J. Buckler 1833. From RA Sixsmith's publication 1957 "Staple Fitzpaine and the Forest of Neroche". See also below

Before the restoration in the fifteenth century, a visitor walking up the churchyard path woud have passed on the left a yew tree, now very ancient, and, nearby, the stocks which were still there in 1791. Beyond stood the cross, erected in the fourteenth century, of which now only the the original steps remain. There would have been part at any rate of the twelfth century church. the chancel arch is late fourteenth or early fifteenth century. There would probably have been a door in the north wall because there is still a stoup there with a three cusped ogee arch, very likely of fourteenth century construction. RA Sixsmith 1957