Brights Cottages

Brights Cottages comprise a row of four cottages, largely occupying the site of a larger house. The core of the structure dates to the mid-16th century, with significant alterations in the later 16th and 17th centuries, followed by modernisation when the cottages were subdivided in the 19th century. The walls are likely plaster over granite rubble, possibly with cob, and have stone rubble stacks. Original granite ashlar chimney shafts remain on some stacks, and the roof is slate, formerly thatched.

The layout is of four small, one- or two-room plan cottages set back from the road, facing north-east. Cottages 2, 3, and 4 occupy a 16th-century three-room-and-through-passage house. Cottages 2 and 3 share an original wide through-passage, now divided into two narrow passages. Cottage 2 occupies the original service room, with a 19th-century rear lateral stack. Cottage 3 occupies the former hall, featuring a large axial stack backing onto the passage. Cottage 4, at the left end, occupies the former inner room and has a gable-end stack. A 19th-century door was inserted into its front. Cottage 1, at the right end, is a two-room plan cottage, likely added during the subdivision; its left room has an end stack backing onto cottage 3. The original house appears to have begun as an open hall house, possibly heated by an open hearth fire, though the hall roof space is inaccessible. A hall stack was inserted in the mid to late 16th century, and the hall was floored in the early to mid-17th century. All four cottages are two stories high with 19th and 20th century outshots to the rear.

The front elevation has a seven-window facade composed of various 19th and 20th century casement windows, some with glazing bars. All four doors are 20th century replacements. The roof is gable-ended.

Inspection of cottages 3 and 4 revealed substantial historic features. Cottage 3, the former hall, has a large granite ashlar fireplace with a hollow-chamfered surround and a granite corbel. A mid-17th century crossbeam is soffit-chamfered with run-out stops. An oak plank-and-muntin screen is plaster over at the upper end. Cottage 4’s rear shows a blocked crank-headed doorframe, and the roof features an original large side-pegged jointed cruck truss; however, the roofspace is inaccessible. Cottage 4 also has a mid-17th century parlour with a granite fireplace and a replacement lintel. Its crossbeam is soffit-chamfered with roll stops, although it has been cut through for the staircase. A late 16th to early 17th century oak rank-headed doorframe, formerly leading from the main room to a kitchen outshot, appears to have been reset. The roof over this cottage is an A-frame with the apex cut off. Cottage 2 is expected to also contain 16th or 17th century carpentry.

The location within South Zeal is notable as one of the few Devon boroughs with a significant number of surviving 16th and 17th century buildings.