St Mary's Chapel, South Zeal, Dartmoor National Park
A local information board states that the 'Chapel is thought to have been a Guild Chapel that fell into disrepair at the Reformation. The bell turret is late 14th/15th century. The whole building was rebuilt in the early 18th century and housed a school until it reverted to a place of worship in the late 19th century'.
In addition, the 'Guide to St Andrew's Church, South Tawton and Chapel of St Mary, South Zeal Devon' suggests that the 'guild was probably that of weavers, tuckers and fullers, as wool was the most important industry in the village until steam driven machines were introduced in North Tawton. In the early 19th century most of the people living in both South Tawton and South Zeal were engaged in home industries such as combing and weaving'.
We've positioned St Mary's Chapel on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. On that satellite imagery, you'll see the chapel to the right and the Market Cross to the left. Apparently, three cottages once filled the space between chapel and cross but were knocked down in the late nineteenth century.
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