Bracondale Langmead

Bracondale and Langmead are two cottages that were once a single house, likely dating from the 17th century, with possible earlier origins. They were modernized in the 19th century, probably when the house was divided into two separate cottages. The exterior features plastered walls, likely made of granite stone rubble, and possibly cob, with granite stone rubble stacks. One stack retains its original granite ashlar chimney shaft, and the roof is thatched.

The building has an L-shaped layout containing the two cottages. The main block is set back from the street. Langmead occupies the left end room, which has a gable-end stack and a rear block that projects at right angles, featuring an outer lateral stack. Bracondale occupies the remainder of the main block, slightly breaking forward from the left room. This section has a two-room plan with a cross passage and stairs in between. The larger left room has an axial stack that backs onto the passage. Although the interiors could not be inspected during the survey, it is likely that these cottages follow a late medieval three-room-and-through-passage plan, with the inner room on the left end and a secondary kitchen behind Langmead. Bracondale seems to occupy the former hall, passage, and service end room. Both cottages are two storeys high.

The exterior features an irregular three-window front with 20th-century casements that include glazing bars. The front door to Langmead is also 20th-century, while Bracondale's front doorway, which is thought to be the passage front door, contains a 19th-century part-glazed six-panel door. The roof is gable-ended. The interiors of both cottages were not available for inspection at the time of the survey, but it is noted that much of the carpentry detail is likely concealed under 19th-century plaster. The village of South Zeal is notable for having several other heavily disguised late medieval hall houses with high-quality craftsmanship, and it is one of the few medieval boroughs in Devon where a significant number of 16th and 17th-century houses still exist.