- 4 days ago
Chateau DIY - Season 11 Episode 16
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00:01Across France, there are thousands of spectacular chateaux.
00:06Many are in a state of disrepair.
00:10Now, they're being brought back to life by courageous owners...
00:15I'm moving running with it.
00:16I'm hoping it will look good. I'm hoping it will be usable.
00:19...who are taking on the ambitious task...
00:22The jobs that you want to do and the jobs that you have to do.
00:25...of restoring these timeless treasures.
00:28That's the first one done. Another 45 to go now.
00:33...into stunning new homes...
00:35Oh! Oh! Incredible!
00:39...and booming businesses.
00:41Do you right now kiss the bride?
00:45There'll be triumphs...
00:47Woohoo! It's a small victory, but for me it's a big one.
00:52...and tribulations.
00:53I do wonder, with all this, whether I've given myself too much work.
00:57But however tough it gets...
00:59Ow! Stinging this all!
01:02...those who have made the leap...
01:05...get to live like kings and queens...
01:10...in their very own castle.
01:16Today...
01:17So you'll have to be very careful when you dig in.
01:20...one couple are in for a shock.
01:22It can be lethal when you've got electric, so I'll have to be careful...
01:25...and just make sure I don't hit any power lines.
01:28...another are on the brink of a breakthrough.
01:30For us, it's the first room that we'll complete.
01:35It's the start of a new life for us.
01:37Oh, it's really nice down here though, isn't it?
01:39And these new Chatelains strike gold.
01:42And we have 11,500 bottles of this.
01:52In the enchanting landscape of Normandy...
01:56...lies the stunning Chateau de la Lasselle.
02:00With 21 acres...
02:04...25 characterful rooms...
02:07...and a beautiful spiral staircase...
02:11...it had lain derelict for 40 years...
02:14...until it was bought by former pet shop owner Terry...
02:18...and his fiancée Ashley.
02:21We have a sort of vague list of jobs that we have to tackle.
02:25We did start off with an actual schedule of jobs that we were wanting to do...
02:30...when they needed to be done by.
02:32But when you take on a project like this...
02:34It doesn't work.
02:35No, your deadlines are never ever met.
02:37We just come together as a team and we make it work somehow.
02:42Just an hour's drive from Le Mans...
02:45...the couple bought the Chateau for £250,000 in 2021.
02:52Don't drop it.
02:53And began a dream restoration project.
02:56Hey!
02:58Creating magnificent holiday suites.
03:03Joining them on their adventure are Terry's mum, Tracy...
03:07...and nephew, Jonathan.
03:14Last year, the family completed a mammoth four-year project.
03:19Just here.
03:20Where they transformed 1,000 square metres of muddy earth at the rear of the property.
03:27To bring the Chateau's formal gardens back to life.
03:32And they celebrated with an open day.
03:36It's fantastic.
03:38And they've given us some ideas for our garden now.
03:40Yeah.
03:40The Chateau feels alive again.
03:42And there's at least ten people that have said to me today, it's a mini Versailles.
03:45Yeah.
03:46Oh, that's good.
03:49Today, they're hoping to reproduce the success they've had on their back garden out the front.
03:56So, we have a garden architect, and he completed the back garden with us, and now we're going to try
04:00and mirror something similar in the front, just so it's nice and formal, so that when you arrive you're greeted
04:06with a beautiful entrance.
04:09But, we've got a lot to do before we get to the stage of the garden designer coming.
04:13So, we need to dig some channels so we can put all of the drainage in for the fountains, put
04:17all of the water feeds in.
04:18Well, I'm getting out my toys today, so I've got my little digger, and I'm just going to sit in
04:22that and be happy just digging away.
04:25And we'll do all the hard stuff.
04:28This isn't your average front garden, though.
04:32At 750 square metres, it's another outdoor project on a Chateau scale.
04:40Terry's plan is to connect both fountains to the water pipe that supplies the on-site cottage.
04:46But they'll have to find it first.
04:49So, do you know where exactly it is?
04:51No, it comes into the cottage about there.
04:53I think it's about here.
04:55That's where the water feed is.
04:56So, you'll have to be very careful when you're digging.
04:58So, I'm standing here.
04:59Yep.
05:01And then go from there, and we're going to have a feed right the way across to that fountain,
05:05and then one from there, we'll put a tee piece on to go to the other one.
05:08Go from here.
05:14I think this is where the electrics run in, so I'll do an orange line there just so you know
05:19where I am.
05:19Yeah, where I am.
05:20Super careful.
05:23I can tend to be a bit gung-ho at times.
05:25It can be lethal when you've got electrics, so I'll have to be too careful, take my time, and just
05:30make sure I don't hit any power lines.
05:33Or the cottage's water supply.
05:45I wouldn't go too deep with it, so scrape just past it, and over it, and then we'd even do
05:50it by hand,
05:51to do it, like, a bit wider there, so I'd have to get to the pipe anywhere, and then come
05:57that way.
06:03Obviously, we don't want to pull the whole pipe up, and then have to replace the whole lot, so I
06:08think we'll get most of it off,
06:09and then we'll just do the rest by hand.
06:14So, we've uncovered the pipes.
06:16Luckily, Ash didn't go down too deep, so I'll dig around a bit more now, just so we can get
06:21a clear access to it,
06:23and then we'll have to look at putting a new connection in, which is all good.
06:27It's been a good start, but with over 50 metres of water pipes to lay, they're under a lot of
06:34pressure.
06:41Just 70 miles away, in Brittany, is the imposing Moulin du Coenon.
06:49With parts dating back to the 13th century, and standing in the centre of two ancient bridges, this once derelict
06:59former mill comes with five floors,
07:03concrete silos, concrete silos, and a small stone jeet.
07:10Since early 2024, it's been the home of experienced renovators Paul and Donna.
07:18My remake for a new property was for it to be near water, and I think, kind of, when Paul
07:25found this, he kind of ticked that completely.
07:28I mean, it's on all sides and underneath the property, and actually, when we first came, it was coming through
07:34the roof as well.
07:37He couldn't get any more water.
07:39Tick.
07:44Located just 12 miles from the coast, the abandoned building was in such disrepair that Donna and Paul managed to
07:53buy it for less than £100,000.
07:56You know, I came here in part for the challenge of the project, and I think I can confirm it's
08:01certainly been challenging.
08:04This summer, they're hoping to move from the jeet into the main building.
08:09So, the couple are creating a temporary kitchen in what will be the utility room.
08:17Last time we saw them, Donna and Paul had started plasterboarding.
08:23Look at our lace.
08:24As well as tackling the flat pack furniture.
08:29Yay!
08:30Gosh, it's tall, isn't it?
08:32This morning, they're keen to get down to business.
08:36I'm excited about today.
08:38Laying the floor tiles is another step forward, and the utility is now well on its way to being complete.
08:46It's what, the beginning of the end?
08:48It's the beginning of the end, yeah.
08:50Just like decorating, tiling is all in the preparation.
08:56So, we need to scrape the floor.
08:59OK.
09:00And then get some PVA down, but also, first of all, we need to agree the plan.
09:05Ever the perfectionist, Paul uses a laser to find the exact centre of the room.
09:12Well, how are you?
09:13Well, you're nearly there then.
09:15Yeah.
09:15Stop there.
09:25We've made up a mix of PVA, which is wood glue and water, which we'll use to prepare the floor.
09:31It just helps adhesion and it helps the bond of the tiles.
09:38As soon as the PVA's dry, it's down to Donna to mix up the tile cement.
09:48Oh, it's sticky.
09:51And for Paul to start some precision engineering.
10:01Right, I need to get the first one square because everything else is set off of this.
10:27Can you grab the laser level, I just want to set this up and make sure we're on the right
10:31path.
10:33Can you tell me when I'm on the mark then?
10:35A little bit to that side, that's it.
10:39We're only two or three millimetres out, but the time we get to the end, you may notice it.
10:45So, we'll just push these over a bit.
10:48Didn't take a lot.
10:55I think it's looking really nice.
10:58Yeah, you can really get a feel of it now the extra tiles are in.
11:02Yeah.
11:03Very pleased.
11:05The tiles, though, are just the beginning.
11:08And there's a long way to go before Donna and Paul are cooking on gas.
11:16Still to come, Terry and Ashley have that sinking feeling.
11:22Oh, my God.
11:24I'm too old for this.
11:26Here is the key to your new home.
11:27Wow.
11:28And two new owners move in and take on more than they bargained for.
11:34I mean, let's be honest, we haven't got a clue.
11:44Scattered across France, there are thousands of breathtaking chateaux, each with their own unique charm and character.
11:54For those bold enough to embrace the adventure, these historic treasures can be theirs.
12:03Like Malcolm and Helen.
12:07We're the day before we get the keys to our new chateau.
12:10So we have a new adventure starting in our lives.
12:14A scary new adventure starting in our lives.
12:17To be honest.
12:18It's exciting.
12:19We're buying a chateau with a vineyard to, yeah, create a new little business out here.
12:24I mean, let's be honest, we haven't got a clue.
12:26So it's going to be a lot of fun.
12:28We're going to find out whether it works or not.
12:30But, yeah, what could possibly go wrong?
12:34Looking for a new challenge, the Wiltshire couple's search brought them here.
12:39The magnificent Chateau Fongrenier Flamand, a 500-year-old six-bedroom Maison de Maître, or manor house.
12:51Based near the vineyards of Bergerac in southwest France, the chateau comes with 54 acres of stunning countryside.
13:05As is the custom in France, meeting them for one final cheque before handing over the keys is estate agent
13:13Carol.
13:14So nice to see you again.
13:16Nice to see you too. Hi.
13:18Hi, Helen. Hi.
13:20How am I coming?
13:21Bonjour.
13:23Welcome.
13:25Happy?
13:26Yeah, very happy. Want to go and have a look?
13:28Yes, yes.
13:29Excellent. Let's go.
13:31Inside, the oak floors and high ceilings give a sense of understated elegance.
13:39So nice. I love this hallway.
13:41Yes.
13:41Yes.
13:43It's really nice, isn't it? I've forgotten how nice this was.
13:45It's quite impressive.
13:47Yeah. Yes.
13:48It looks different without furniture though, doesn't it?
13:50Yes.
13:50Last time we came it had furniture in it.
13:52It did.
13:53Yeah.
13:53It looks bigger.
13:54It does look bigger.
13:56Can't wait to get my hands on it.
14:02Yes.
14:05Uninhabited since 2006, Helen's determined to bring their new home back to life.
14:13We're going to make this room and the next room be one room.
14:17Mm.
14:18Oh, all in one room.
14:19Yes.
14:19So a big kitchen, sort of dining, sort of with chairs and sort of looking out through.
14:26Yes.
14:27That way.
14:29But Helen's not just knocking through.
14:32Yeah.
14:32I like the framing of the radiators.
14:34Yeah.
14:34Yeah, yeah.
14:36This whole, whole thing can come out, can't it?
14:41Do you like the way we're actually just thinking of how we can destroy various bits of it?
14:46Yeah.
14:46And while Helen's thinking ahead, Malcolm's unlocking the past.
14:51I've got the keys here.
14:53Yes.
14:54Are you screens on it?
14:55I wanted to spare you.
15:01Still going.
15:03Oh, my good Lord.
15:05Just a few to keep you occupied.
15:07I'm going to leave that to you.
15:09Thanks.
15:09I'm looking forward to that.
15:13In one of the five salons.
15:16Oh, that's better.
15:18Some lights.
15:19Better already.
15:20You have lights.
15:21Yeah.
15:21Hallelujah.
15:22All Helen can see is a beautiful blank canvas.
15:27I've got some wild wallpaper in mind for this room.
15:30Really?
15:31Yes.
15:32I'm quite curious now.
15:34Some of the ideas that I've had, I can now see that, yes, I can do that.
15:38It's going to be good.
15:39So I really want to do it.
15:41Get my hands on it.
15:43Rip it all out.
15:45Put my nice wallpaper on.
15:50Even though Helen has plans for every room, she's keen to retain the chateau's character.
15:57This is a really beautiful one, isn't it?
16:00I like the stonework on it and the way that it's all pitted.
16:04It's got history.
16:05It could tell you a story.
16:07Love it.
16:09Yeah.
16:10Yeah.
16:10Gorgeous.
16:12Malcolm and Helen, though, still have the best part of their new home to come.
16:22300 miles north in Brittany, Donna and Paul's new utility room come temporary kitchen is beginning to take shape.
16:32The oak skirting, though, not only needs to be fitted, but also given some extra attention.
16:40It's a busy day today.
16:41We're going to continue with the utility, get the end panel fixed and then crack on with the cornice in
16:47the utility room.
16:48Donna's separately going to be prepping the oak, giving it a sand, and then we need to try and cut
16:54the oak to size and try and do Donna's intricate routering detail.
16:59I'm not sure how successful that will be, so...
17:01I know it will be successful, darling. I trust you implicitly.
17:06As if there wasn't enough pressure on me already, so...
17:10Also keen to get on is Argyle, the cat.
17:16Donna and Paul's first job of the day is at the back of the mill.
17:20We've got a lot of oak that we've had cut from a local sawmill, and we're going to use that
17:26for the skirtings and facings.
17:27So we've set up the thicknesser. I'm going to give Donna a hand with the first one so she knows
17:31what needs to be done.
17:39The thicknesser offers a quick way to plain the oak skirting and ensure they're all the same depth.
17:49There is, though, some by-product.
17:53Oh, God, look at all that.
17:54Maybe it's a little fool.
17:58We should get a guinea pig or do a guinea pig enclosure.
18:02That's looking beautiful.
18:08And you see the difference between the just clean-cut planks and that, which is nice.
18:15Wanting everything to be perfect, Donna gives the planks a fine sanding,
18:20while Paul pushes ahead in the utility room.
18:25We're just going to try and do the cornice now.
18:27So the corner's really always the tricky bit, and then we've got a straight cut at the end.
18:32So we'll start from the corner and then work our way towards the wall.
18:51It's really cool.
18:55You're getting on?
19:00How are you getting on?
19:01hear me. How are you getting on? Okay, I've sanded those. We've obviously got some like
19:09cleaning marks in them from when they went through the thickness of breath. I kind of
19:13think they add a bit of... Yeah. They make them look older somehow, don't they? I think
19:18that'll be fine. Yeah, can't wait to get them varnished. Yeah, I'm going to get them on first.
19:22Are you sure you want this tricky edge detail? Okay. Donna's desire to cut a groove into the oak
19:33skirting requires a test run. That's better. Is it really worth all the effort for that? Oh yeah,
19:43it looks nice. Yeah, that's a lot better. Donna's so impressed, she's adding the door frame to her
19:52wish list. So, can you just... Oh yeah, I'll just do that. Yeah. Izzy wizzy, let's get busy. Come on,
20:00I'm wanting to wallpaper. Yeah, well you need to, you need to go and sand more curtains and put them
20:05through the thicknesser. For Donna, these little design details make all the difference, even if
20:13it means hours of extra work.
20:22Over in Normandy, Ashley and Terry are preparing to install the plumbing for two fountains at the
20:29front of the chateau. So, we've got all of the first stage of digging done. Yep. So, the first
20:34trench is all dug for the water pipe, which we need to do a little tidying up and adjustments. What
20:42are you trying to say? My digging was good. It was. We can tidy it up, get the water pipe
20:47in and then
20:48get it all backfilled in. Yep. So, the three of us today, me, you and your mum. Yep. We've dragged
20:52mum in to give us a hand. Yep. She's the big guns and she's happy with the spades, so. Yeah.
20:59Having uncovered the water supply from the on-site cottage, they now plan to connect it to new pipes
21:06that'll feed the fountains. So, what we're going to do with this to get the pipe through, to either
21:16drill through it, which I don't fancy doing because you can see how wide it goes, or the other option
21:20is just take the top layer off, so you can see it's all loose anyway. Yeah. And then we can
21:25cement her all
21:25back in later on. I think, I think it's a good idea. And there'll be plants around it anyway,
21:29you're not going to see the pipes, so. Yeah. Okay, doctor, let's crack on. Yeah.
21:36There we go. There we go. There we go.
21:42There we have our line. Brilliant. Well, we'll get the rest of this trench
21:47cleaned and then we can get all the piping in. Yep. Yep. Let's crack on.
22:05All right, we've got our water for each. Yep. So, get this in, see how far it goes,
22:10and then we can get some connections on it. Yep.
22:17Keep the red in, it's a bit longer.
22:22Pipe in. Yep. I'll get a connection on it just so we can get the other fountain. Yep.
22:27But now all this is done, if you want to start filling it back in again. Yeah, I'll get it
22:30all back filled.
22:31Perfect. Yeah.
22:39So that's the two parts connected, so we have enough to feed each of the fountains.
22:45So I'll get this on just to protect the connection.
22:52We've got all the piping, just need to get this connection onto the main feed,
22:56so we've turned all the water off. We need to cut a little section out and then we can get
23:00this fitting on.
23:03So the water coming out isn't a leak, it's just obviously all of the water that's actually in the pipe
23:07work.
23:08So it's stopped now, which is good, so I can get these connections on.
23:12Which is easier said than done.
23:15Let's see if this goes in now.
23:18Shut, you don't.
23:20Even working as a couple, the couplings just aren't connecting.
23:26We're just turning a bit by bit with the pliers, I think.
23:28Yep.
23:32Use them all, Grips, just to tap that down.
23:34Tap what?
23:35Tap it down, like hit the back of it.
23:42It's going to have to go in more, it's going to have to.
23:47These rings.
23:48I'm going to find.
23:48You buy a chateau and you never know what you're going to end up doing.
23:51I've got one on.
23:54I've finally got the connection in, it's on, I think, so I can start tightening it up now.
24:01Max pressure.
24:07All done.
24:09All done.
24:09That was nice and easy.
24:13Oh my God, I'm too old for this.
24:17You're only 21.
24:19The pipes might be connected, but with so much more to do,
24:24Terry and Ashley's magnificent fountains could still end up a damp squib.
24:34Coming up.
24:36It's the moment of truth for Donna and Paul.
24:40Do you want to do the honours?
24:43That's a little bit creepy, isn't it?
24:46And Malcolm and Helen get the jitters.
24:50Yeah, not sure we'll be keeping that.
24:53Blech.
25:00In northern France, work inside Moulin du Cuenon is coming on leaps and bounds.
25:08Today we're back in the utility kitchen, really pushing on to try and get that finished.
25:15We are getting quite a lot done now, aren't we?
25:18Yeah.
25:18It's getting there.
25:20Yeah, it's all starting to come together.
25:22One of Donna's favourite features is a bespoke three metre long single slab oak worktop,
25:30which has been receiving a lot of attention.
25:34The worktop has now been sanded numerous times on different thickness sandpapers.
25:41So I think we're ready to start putting on the oil. So, um, fingers crossed.
25:52You'll see how some of it goes white. That's excess.
25:56And what the instructions say is I then have to wipe it off with a lint-free cloth
26:00so that it kind of soaks into the wood, but there's not too excess,
26:04which would stay cloudy rather than let the grain come through.
26:07So it's kind of wipe on, wipe off.
26:11The oil not only waterproofs the wood, but also gives it a full facial.
26:18It's come up just absolutely gorgeous. I mean,
26:21you can see the beautiful knots and that in the wood and exactly what we wanted.
26:25In the opposite corner, Paul's got his work cut out.
26:30So this is a hatch that covers the grand turbine.
26:33Underneath the floor is one of the water mill's turbines
26:38that for decades used the force of the river to generate electricity.
26:44A little bit of history that Donna and Paul are keen to keep, as well as access.
26:51Because it's a recess handle, this section needs to be sunk into the timber.
26:55So hopefully we'll use a bit of masking tape, place this in, gently tap it.
26:59We'll get a bit of an indentation that'll give us a hint for a clue as to where the recess
27:04needs to be.
27:05Once the masking tapes in, Paul uses a pencil to rub graphite over the metal,
27:11which then shows him the area he needs to cut out.
27:18We'll just try and chisel it as best we can and see if we can remove a bit of timber
27:22and hopefully it'll fit in.
27:26As the hatch has been made to measure, Paul needs to do some very careful carving.
27:44MUSIC PLAYS
28:01Just a couple of screws to go, and then that'll be, like, fixed.
28:04It's another job done, but there are plenty more on the to-do list,
28:11including fitting an undermount sink in Donna's beloved oak worktop.
28:27Can I tighten this fully in place?
28:30I think so.
28:31Triple check, please.
28:33Yeah, that feels good.
28:35OK.
28:43There you go.
28:52Every inch of the room has been carefully thought about, for good reason.
28:58I think for most people, you know, doing a utility room, it's, yeah,
29:02we're doing a utility room, you know, it's just where all the washing goes
29:05and the laundry goes and that.
29:07For us, it's the first room in the mill that we will complete,
29:11and it's really exciting.
29:13I mean, it's the beginning of us living here.
29:17It's the start of a new life for us,
29:19and it just gives you that motivation to continue
29:21and do the next room and do the next room.
29:27Do you want to do the honours?
29:29OK.
29:36It's only taken four months to get that for you, so...
29:40That's ideal.
29:42Perfect.
29:44It's been a long slog, but Donna and Paul's dream of moving into the mill
29:49could be about to become a reality.
30:00Down in the Dordogne, at Chateau von Grenier-Flamont,
30:04Malcolm and Helen are halfway through a tour of their new home.
30:09As is the tradition in France, the estate agent accompanies them
30:13before handing over the keys.
30:17Oh, yeah, this is going to be our bedroom.
30:19This is lovely.
30:20And fantastic.
30:21Yeah.
30:24See the views right the way over there into the hills.
30:28Yeah, I love it.
30:29It's going to be amazing.
30:31So peaceful, that's what I love about it as well.
30:36Yeah, it's great.
30:42I love it.
30:43You can really appreciate it.
30:45Yeah, you know, it's a lovely staircase as well.
30:47There is, though, another area within the Chateau
30:51that stole Malcolm's heart.
30:54The wine cellar!
30:56The estate may have its own vineyard,
30:59but the Chateau's previous owners
31:01seemed keen to broaden their horizons.
31:06Wine bottles.
31:10Oh, it's really nice down here, though, isn't it?
31:12It is, nice and cool.
31:14Has it got any wine in it?
31:16Yes.
31:18I think it's Chateau Saint-Pierre, 1983, by the looks of things.
31:28That's a little bit creepy, isn't it?
31:32Yeah, not sure we'll be keeping that.
31:35Blech.
31:36This is a great little room.
31:39Great temperature in here.
31:40But the place does need some work.
31:43Roots of trees coming in here.
31:46Kind of an original masonry
31:48and not quite original expanding foam.
31:51Yeah, this will be a fun room.
31:53I'm looking forward to doing this one.
31:56And from today, they can put their plan into practice.
32:01Everything we've been doing up till now has been on paper.
32:04We did a floor plan, but we need to really look at it
32:07and see whether what we're thinking we can do with it, we can do with it.
32:10I'm sort of thinking structurally where things are going to go,
32:14whether the ideas I've had on paper are actually going to work in reality.
32:18It's a beautiful-looking Chateau
32:20that I think we can make really special.
32:22And here is the key to your new home.
32:25Look at that.
32:26Hey, we have the key.
32:27It's a proper key.
32:29As it's a new chapter in their Chateau's story,
32:32the couple are keen to make their mark.
32:35It's our new sign.
32:38And it's got Chateau Fongrenier,
32:41because this is obviously Chateau Fongrenier,
32:43but Flamont, because Malcolm, my husband,
32:46was always called Flamingo at school.
32:48So Flamont is Flamingo in French.
32:51But Malcolm and Helen won't be standing still for long,
32:55as they still have farm buildings
32:57and 30 acres of vineyards to explore.
33:06Up at Chateau de la Lasselle,
33:09both fountains in the front garden now have a water supply.
33:13So the next task is to install a drainage system.
33:20My mum and Asha are busy with the digger and the tractor,
33:22just getting all of the ground level.
33:24I'm just in the fountain, and I'm on with the next stage,
33:27which is just getting the overflow and the drain sorted.
33:38Well, that's the smaller piping.
33:40Now what I'll do is I'll feed it into a bigger pipe.
33:43We'll cut some grooves in that,
33:44just so it's going to allow the water to seep out
33:46and go into the soak away.
33:48Known as a French drain,
33:50the perforated pipe ensures the fresh water
33:53is slowly released away from buildings and other structures.
33:58That's a pipe in place.
33:59We've got our base level of gravel,
34:01and now what we can do is get another layer of gravel on top of it,
34:04and then we can get our finishing layer of mud.
34:06We want it all hidden,
34:07so you don't actually see any of the sort of workings of the fountain.
34:11I think it's worked out really well.
34:15So we've got everything in place now.
34:17All of the trenches are all filled in,
34:18all of the pipework's in place,
34:19and we've got our manhole in place as well.
34:22Inside, we've now got our tap,
34:24so we can actually turn on the fountains when we want,
34:27so during summer, we'll turn them on to fill up,
34:29and then they'll have an automatic feeder,
34:31so whenever the water drops below the level,
34:34it'll just fill it up.
34:36I'll turn it on now, give it a test,
34:37and make sure that it all works.
34:44It's working perfectly,
34:46so it's filling up the fountain,
34:47and the tap work's fine,
34:49and it's giving us easy access to it as well,
34:51so once all of the ground's levelled
34:53and we get the layer of gravel on top of it,
34:56hopefully it'll just meet up to the top of the manhole,
34:59not just blend in seamlessly.
35:00There's still quite a way to go yet,
35:02obviously we need to get all of the brickwork pointed up,
35:04get all of the centre sealed,
35:06and then we can look at getting the fountains in place.
35:10With the plumbing secured,
35:12Terry and Ashley plan to build
35:14two impressive four-tier fountains
35:17to welcome their guests.
35:19When we've got the fountains in place,
35:21I think it'll just be a spectacular entrance
35:23to drive up to this, have both the fountains going,
35:25and all the gardens out here done,
35:27and it's going to be out of this world.
35:29Well, it'll be tidier than what it is.
35:31It won't be complete,
35:32but it'll be a lot tidier,
35:34and it'll be the start of what we're wanting.
35:36They've made good progress,
35:39but Terry and Ashley's fabulous fountains
35:42are still very much a fantasy.
35:51Coming up...
35:55..things don't go well for Malcolm and Helen...
35:58So we've got lots of farm equipment that doesn't work.
36:02..and after a year and a half...
36:04..have Donna and Paul finally achieved their dream?
36:08Room number one, down.
36:17In south-west France,
36:19Malcolm and Helen have just been given the keys
36:23to their stunning new home.
36:25After exploring every nook and cranny inside,
36:29there's one area that still remains a mystery.
36:33Their 30-acre vineyard and the buildings around it.
36:38We're going to go down to the shea and the cave
36:41and also the shelter to have a look at the farm equipment.
36:45Helping them work out what's what
36:47is the chateau's former estate manager, Carl Pierre.
36:51So Carl has been looking after the chateau for many years now
36:54on behalf of its previous owners.
36:56This is normal, walnut, walnut.
36:59This is pecan.
37:01He's a man who is going to teach me how to make wine,
37:04amongst other things here.
37:07The chateau's vineyard, last produced wine in 2006.
37:12Here we have Sauvignon Gris and Sauvignon Blanc.
37:16OK.
37:17And since then, the equipment has lain dormant.
37:21But if Malcolm gets his way, not for much longer.
37:28Eight concrete tanks, the steel tanks,
37:32the fibre tanks, the big press.
37:35This is where the magic will happen when we get the grapes.
37:39Bit of a cleaning job to do, to get it up and running again.
37:42It's dusty, isn't it?
37:47So, here's the chateau, the calve.
37:51This is huge, this fruit.
37:53Great, isn't it?
37:54The barrels may be empty, but they're of the highest quality.
38:00French oak, which comes from the Department of Falliers.
38:03And very thin grain, and you can smell.
38:09Is it very nice, isn't it?
38:10Yeah, so good.
38:13Oh, it does smell lovely, doesn't it?
38:15Yeah, it smells good.
38:15Mm, really good.
38:19In the room next door are all that remains of the chateau's last harvest.
38:24It's 2006, because we are appellation d'origine contrôlée,
38:30means it's a wine from the terroir.
38:32It's not just a fruity wine, so it can be aged for many years.
38:36And we have 11,500 bottles of this.
38:40So, we're going to be good for the next week.
38:44A 30-acre vineyard, though, can produce over 60,000 bottles,
38:49so Malcolm and Helen have got a lot to learn.
38:53I feel privileged, I feel it's a bit of an honour
38:55to see whether we can recreate, you know,
38:58the success that this vineyard used to have 20 years ago, 30 years ago.
39:02A bit of an adventure for us.
39:04I'm really looking forward to it.
39:05It's part of the reason why this whole chateau appeals to us.
39:08But it's not just the vineyard that they need to bring back to life.
39:15So, we have tractors, very old knackered tractors.
39:18So, we've got lots of farm equipment that doesn't work.
39:21So, we've got an exercise to try and make it all work.
39:25Got a key in it, just doesn't have a battery to start it.
39:33There is hope, though.
39:36This is a little bit of mildew.
39:37Yeah.
39:38But as soon as it's just one or two leaves, we don't care.
39:42This year, the sanitary conditions are quite exceptional,
39:45so we don't need to treat a lot.
39:47So, there we go.
39:48There's some down here.
39:51Hey, we've got grapes.
39:53For the chateau's new Chatelain, it's been a long day.
39:58Oh!
40:01But also, one they will never forget.
40:05Been looking at these bottles for a year, wondering what they tasted like.
40:09Oh, that's a good sound.
40:10Here you go.
40:11Let's find out.
40:12Try it.
40:14Smell it.
40:16It's not to me, but then I don't really know about that.
40:22Oh, it's very aged.
40:25Cheers.
40:26Cheers.
40:27Cheers, darling.
40:28Here's to a new adventure in France.
40:31Yes.
40:32For Malcolm, Helen and their extraordinary new home,
40:36it's definitely going to be a vintage year.
40:48Up near the coast of Brittany, it's D-Day for Donna and Paul.
40:54Today, we're going to finish the utility room,
40:57come makeshift kitchen, aren't we?
41:00Yeah, hopefully.
41:00Yay!
41:01It'll be the first room in the mill that'll be complete,
41:03so that's a milestone.
41:05And it's looking fabulous already, so...
41:08And it's not complete.
41:09I know.
41:10Oh, very exciting.
41:12It's down to Donna to finish the job.
41:16I've already been filling up cupboards,
41:18so I now need to just put the last bits and pieces in
41:21and then the room's done.
41:25The first room, I think, is the most important.
41:28You know, is everything in my head
41:30of how I see the mill looking eventually?
41:33Am I going to be able to pull that off?
41:35And I think we have in the utility.
41:38I'm really, really pleased with it.
41:41I think it's got that real industrial feel.
41:44I think we've managed to incorporate a lot of the oak
41:46and that back into the room as well,
41:49so that gives the feel of, you know, its heritage.
41:53And it's certainly moody.
41:57So I'm happy.
41:58I'm very happy.
42:11That's it.
42:12Done, I think.
42:17Room number one, down.
42:22Just over a year ago,
42:25Donna and Paul fitted a new window in the facade,
42:30shedding light on the grand turbine
42:32and a musty dark room above it,
42:37its rotting floor riddled with woodworm,
42:41too dangerous even to step on,
42:45the damp walls crumbling and covered in mould,
42:49the ceiling ruined by rainwater,
42:53every surface covered in decades of dust and dirt.
43:00But today, modern stone tiles,
43:05metallic wallpaper and contemporary fittings
43:08have brought the room into the 21st century.
43:12A new oak worktop complements the ancient beam above it.
43:19All the skirtings and door frames
43:22are carved with a simple but elegant design.
43:26And Paul's handmade hatch
43:29gives access to the turbine below.
43:33Every inch carefully thought through,
43:37the effect cool and calm,
43:39perfectly designed and utterly practical.
43:50I'm just so, so pleased with this room.
43:53It's a pretty slick utility room.
43:55It is.
43:56It's probably the slickest utility room I've ever had.
44:01And the biggest utility room.
44:04I'm absolutely over the moon.
44:06It just looks beautiful.
44:08Well done.
44:10What do you think, Kirill?
44:13Yes!
44:15Nine out of ten cats prefer it.
44:19Donna and Paul have achieved an enormous amount.
44:25But they still need to build themselves a bedroom
44:28before they can even think of moving in.
44:38Next time, Ashley takes on a mega challenge.
44:42It's always important that the first few that go in are right.
44:45Because if they're not, all the lines in the garden are off.
44:48Always a bit nervous.
44:51Another couple muddle their way through.
44:54Can you remember how to do it?
44:56No.
44:57And it's a right carry-on for others.
45:00I may be running with it.
45:02Sometimes...
45:04Oh, my God.
45:06Oh, my God.
45:07Oh.
45:30Oh, my God.
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