Broadgate

Broadgate is a former manor house, now divided into two dwellings, situated on the west side of East Street in Braunton. The building contains 14th and 15th-century fabric within its cross-wing, with interior alterations dated to 1626 based on plasterwork over the mantelpiece. It has been partially rebuilt, probably in the 19th century, and refenestrated in the 20th century.

The structure follows a three-cell through-passage plan, probably dating to the 16th century, with the cross-wing positioned at the upper end. It is constructed of stone rubble with a slate roof. A right-angled breeze-block extension was added to the lower end of the west facade in the mid-20th century. Near the upper end of the hall stands a gabled right-angled stair turret, rebuilt in the 19th century. Between these features is an outshut, now with a 20th-century conservatory in front, which encloses the former lateral rubble and brick hall stack.

At the extreme upper end, the west face of the cross-wing features sashes on each floor with 8 panes per sash above 6 panes, and a projecting rubble stack to the first-floor chamber only, with a corbelled base. A brick stack occupies the north gable end. The east facade displays a 2-light casement with flat brick arch over a 3-light casement in the cross-wing gable end, and 2-light casements with brick arches on each floor on the north face, all 20th-century fenestration. To the right, in the angle, is an inserted mock Tudor wooden staircase opening directly into the hall, featuring ovolo-moulded jambs and a reused lintel. A plank door with cover strips is present, along with a 4-light hall window with a similar window above, both 20th-century casements with timber lintels and stone sills.

The north side presents a fine cross-passage entrance with a 19th-century rubble porch and slated canopy. The doorway is square-headed oak with ovolo-moulded jambs featuring stepped stops. The oak door is constructed of planks with cover strips and bears carved 17th-century graffiti. Above are two 2-light casements with 12 panes per light and 8-paned horizontal pivots in the upper part. To the right of the porch is a 4-light window with glazing bars and 18th-century panes.

The lateral hall fireplace features a slate herringbone design and a chamfered lintel with 19th-century brackets. The upper chamber contains a fine medieval stone fireplace with a corbelled stone lintel and rounded corbelled stone lamp brackets on each side. A plaster frieze displaying an intertwined floriated design and 17th-century plasterwork surrounds the mantel, with a cartouche dated 1626 at the centre, featuring a scrolled head and base, fleur-de-lis flanking human heads, and floriated designs at the corners.

A fine medieval roof remains above, concealed within the structure. It comprises 2 bays with intermediate trusses. The principal trusses have apex yokes and chamfered arch braces to cambered collars, with the arch braces morticed into the principals. The intermediate trusses are raised and chamfered base crucks with cambered chamfered collars supporting king posts; the eastern one has been replaced. Windbraces in both bays are chamfered on the underside only. Three tiers of purlins are present: the top and bottom tiers are trenched in the principal trusses, whilst the middle tier has been halved and threaded. The top purlins are chamfered between the windbraces. The west gable end of the cross-wing has been rebuilt, suggesting a bay may have been lost.

The south side at the lower end contains a cloam oven and a plain timber lintel to a fireplace at the north end. Four finely chamfered and stopped beams survive, two of which are partly concealed.