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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've never been running with it.
00:16I'm hoping it will look good. I'm hoping it will be usable.
00:19Who are taking on the ambitious task.
00:22The jobs that you want to do and the jobs you have to do.
00:25Of restoring these timeless treasures.
00:28That's the first one, John.
00:30Another 45 to go now.
00:33Into stunning new homes.
00:35Oh. Oh.
00:37Incredible.
00:39And booming businesses.
00:41Do you right now kiss the bride?
00:45There'll be triumphs.
00:47It's a small victory.
00:49But for me it's a big one.
00:52And tribulations.
00:53I do wonder with all this whether I've given myself too much work.
00:57However tough it gets.
00:59Ow!
01:00Stinging Nestle.
01:02Those who have made the leap.
01:04Sonsies!
01:07Get to live like kings and queens in their very own castle.
01:15Today.
01:17So you'll have to be very careful.
01:18When you dig in.
01:19One couple are in for a shock.
01:22It can be lethal when you've got electric so I'll have to be careful and just make sure I don't
01:26hit any power lines.
01:28Another are on the brink of a breakthrough.
01:30For us it's the first room that will complete.
01:34It's the start of a new life for us.
01:37It's really nice down here though isn't it?
01:39And these new Châtelains strike gold.
01:42And we have eleven and a half thousand bottles of this.
01:52In the enchanting landscape of Normandy lies the stunning Château de la Lasselle.
02:00With 21 acres, 25 characterful rooms and a beautiful spiral staircase.
02:11It had lain derelict for 40 years.
02:14Until it was bought by former pet shop owner Terry.
02:18And his fiancee 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.
02:30When 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.
02:36We just come together as a team and we make it work somehow.
02:42Just an hour's drive from Le Mans.
02:45The couple bought the Château for £250,000 in 2021.
02:52Don't drop it.
02:53And began a dream restoration project.
02:57Hey.
02:59Creating magnificent holiday suites.
03:03Joining them on their adventure are Terry's mum, Tracy.
03:07And 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 Château's formal gardens back to life.
03:32And they celebrated with an open day.
03:36It's fantastic.
03:37And they've given us some ideas for our garden now.
03:40The Château feels alive again.
03:42And there's at least 10 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.
03:59And now we're going to try and mirror something similar in the front.
04:02And just so it's nice and formal so that when you arrive, you're greeted with 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.
04:16Put all of the water feeds in.
04:18Well, I'm getting out my toys today.
04:20So I've got my little digger and I'm just going to sit in that and be happy just digging away.
04:25And we'll do all the hard stuff.
04:29This isn't your average front garden though.
04:31At 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.
04:48So do you know where exactly it is?
04:51No, it comes into the cottage about there.
04:53I think it's about here.
04:54That's where the water feed is.
04:56So you'll have to be very careful when you dig in.
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.
05:19Yeah, that's 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 electric, 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 wove it and then we can even
05:50do it by hand.
06:03So I've uncovered the pipes.
06:16Luckily Ash didn't go down too deep.
06:18So I'll dig around a bit more now just so we can get a clear access to it and then
06:23we'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, 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.
07:36So...
07:37We 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
07:52buy 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.
08:08So, 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, we're all less.
08:24As well as tackling the flat pack furniture.
08:29Yay!
08:30Of course, 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 with a plan.
09:05Ever the perfectionist, Paul uses a laser to find the exact centre of the room.
09:12How are you? Well, you're nearly there then.
09:14Yeah, stop 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.
09:49Oh, 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?
10:34A 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.
10:44So, 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 that 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. I'm too old for this.
11:25Here is to keep your new home.
11:28And two new owners move in and take on more than they bargained for.
11:35I mean, let's be honest, we haven't got a clue.
11:44Scattered across France, there are thousands of breathtaking chateaux,
11:49each with their own unique charm and character.
11:54For those bold enough to embrace the adventure,
11:58these 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 where we...
12:15A scary new adventure starting in our lives, to be honest.
12:17It's scary, exciting, where we're buying a chateau with a vineyard
12:20to, 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,
12:36the Wiltshire couple's search brought them here.
12:39The magnificent Chateau Fongrenier Flamand.
12:44A 500-year-old six-bedroom Maison de Me, or manor house.
12:51Based near the vineyards of Bergerac in south-west France,
12:55the chateau comes with 54 acres of stunning countryside.
13:05As is the custom in France,
13:07meeting them for one final cheque
13:09before handing over the keys is estate agent Carol.
13:14So nice to see you again.
13:16Nice to see you too. Hi.
13:17Hi, Helen. Hi.
13:20How am I coming?
13:21Bonjour.
13:23Welcome.
13:25Happy?
13:26Yeah, very happy.
13:27Want to go and have a look?
13:28Yes, yes.
13:29Excellent. Let's go.
13:31Inside, the oak floors and high ceilings
13:35give a sense of understated elegance.
13:39It's so nice. I love this hallway.
13:41Yes.
13:42It's really nice, isn't it?
13:44I've forgotten how nice this was.
13:45It's quite impressive.
13:46Yeah.
13:47Yes.
13:48It looks different without furniture though, doesn't it?
13:50It does.
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.
13:58Yes.
13:59So this is the grand room that was the dining room as well.
14:03Yes.
14:05Uninhabited since 2006,
14:08Helen'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.
14:17Oh, all in one room.
14:19Yes.
14:19So a big kitchen, sort of dining, sort of with chairs
14:24and sort of looking out through.
14:27Yes.
14:27That way.
14:29But Helen's not just knocking through.
14:32Yeah.
14:32I like the framing of the radiators.
14:34Yeah, yeah.
14:36This whole, whole thing can come out, can't it?
14:40Yes.
14:41Do you like the way we're actually just thinking
14:42of how we can destroy various bits of it?
14:46And while Helen's thinking ahead,
14:49Malcolm's unlocking the past.
14:51I've got the keys here.
14:53Yes.
14:54Do you have 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.
15:07Yes.
15:07I'm going to leave that to you.
15:08Thanks.
15:09I'm looking forward to that.
15:13In one of the five salons...
15:16Oh, that's better.
15:17Some lights.
15:19You 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,
15:35I 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,
15:53she'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
16:02and the way that it's all pitted.
16:03It's got history.
16:05It could tell you a story.
16:07Love it.
16:09Yeah.
16:10Gorgeous.
16:11Malcolm 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-cum-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.
16:43Get the end panel fixed and then crack on with the cornice in the utility room.
16:48Donna's separately going to be prepping the oak.
16:51Mm-hm.
16:52Giving it a sand and then we need to try and cut the oak to size
16:55and 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.
17:03I trust you implicitly.
17:05As 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.
17:20Got a lot of oak that we've had cut from a local sawmill
17:24and we're going to use that for the skirtings and facings.
17:27So we've set up the thicknesser.
17:29I'm going to give Donna a hand with the first one
17:31so she knows what needs to be done.
17:39The thicknesser offers a quick way to plain the oak skirting
17:43and ensure they're all the same depth.
17:49There is, though, some by-product.
17:52Oh, God, look at all that!
17:54Maybe it's a little fool.
17:58We could 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.
18:12It's nice.
18:15Wanting everything to be perfect, Donna gives the planks a fine sanding,
18:21while Paul pushes ahead in the utility room.
18:25We're just going to try and do the corners now.
18:27So the corner's really always the tricky bit
18:29and 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.
18:55How are you getting on?
19:00How are you getting on?
19:04OK.
19:05I've sanded those.
19:08We've obviously got some, like, cleaning marks in them
19:11from when they went through the thickness of the bra.
19:12I kind of think they add a bit of...
19:14Yeah.
19:16They make them look older somehow, don't they?
19:18I think that'll be fine.
19:19Yeah.
19:19Can't wait to get them varnished.
19:21Yeah.
19:22Let me get them on first, don't they?
19:23Are you sure you want this tricky edge detail?
19:27OK.
19:30Donna's desire to cut a groove into the oak skirting requires a test run.
19:40That's better.
19:41Is it really worth all the effort for that?
19:43Oh, yeah, it looks nice.
19:46Yeah, that's a lot better.
19:49Donna's so impressed, she's adding the door frame to her wish list.
19:54So, can you just...
19:55Oh, yeah, I'll just...
19:56Do that.
19:57Yeah.
19:58Izzy, wizzy, let's get busy.
19:59Come on, I'm wanting to wallpaper.
20:01Yeah.
20:02Well, you need to...
20:03You need to go and sand more skirtings and put them through the thicknesser.
20:07For Donna, these little design details make all the difference,
20:12even if it means hours of extra work.
20:22Over in Normandy, Ashley and Terry are preparing to install the plumbing for two fountains at the front of the
20:29chateau.
20:30So, we've got all of the first stage of digging done.
20:33Yep.
20:33So, the first trench is all dug for the water pipe.
20:36We just need to do a little tidying up and adjustments.
20:42What are you trying to say?
20:43My digging was good.
20:44It was.
20:45We can tidy it up, get the water pipe in and then get it all backfilled in.
20:49Yep.
20:49So, the three of us today, me, you and your mum.
20:51Yep.
20:51We've dragged mum in to give us a hand.
20:53Yep.
20:54She's the big guns.
20:55And she's happy with the spades, so...
20:56Yeah.
20:59Having uncovered the water supply from the on-site cottage, they now plan to connect it to new pipes that'll
21:07feed the fountains.
21:10So, what we're going to do with this to get the pipe through, to either drill through it, which I
21:17don't fancy doing because you can see how wide it goes,
21:19or the other option is just take the top layer off, so you can see it's all loose anyway.
21:24Yeah.
21:24And then we can cement it all back in later on.
21:27I think it's a good idea.
21:28There'll be plants around it anyway, you're not going to see the pipes, so...
21:30Yeah.
21:30OK, Doctor, let's crack on.
21:32Yeah.
21:35There we go.
21:36There we go.
21:39There we go.
21:42There we have our line.
21:45Brilliant.
21:46We'll get the rest of this trench cleaned and then we can get all the piping in.
21:49Yep.
21:49Yep.
21:50Let's crack on.
22:05Right.
22:05Got our water for each.
22:07So, get this in, see how far it goes and then we can get some connections on it.
22:11Yep.
22:17Keep the red in, it's a bit longer.
22:22Pipe in.
22:23Yep.
22:24I'll get a connection on it just so we can get the other fountain.
22:27Yep.
22:27But now all this is done, do you want to start filling it back in again?
22:30Yeah, I'll get it all back filled.
22:30Perfect.
22:32It's digger time.
22:39So, that's the two parts connected.
22:41So, 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.
22:58We need to cut a little section out and then we can get this fitting on.
23:03So, the water coming out isn't a leak.
23:04It's just, obviously, all of the water that's actually in the pipe work.
23:08So, it's stopped now, which is good.
23:09So, I can get these connections on.
23:12Which is easier said than done.
23:15Let's see if this goes in now.
23:18It should.
23:18It's new dance.
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.
23:36Like, hit the back of it.
23:42It's going to have to go in more.
23:43It's going to have to.
23:47It's going to have to go in more.
23:48It's going to have to go in more.
23:49You 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.
23:56It's on.
23:57I think.
23:57So, I can start tightening it up now.
24:01Max pressure.
24:07Hold on.
24:08Hold on.
24:09That was nice and easy.
24:13Oh, my God.
24:14I'm too old for this.
24:16You're only 21.
24:19The pipes might be connected, but with so much more to do, Terry and Ashley's magnificent fountains could still end
24:28up a damp squib.
24:34Coming up.
24:36It's the moment of truth for Donna and Paul.
24:39Do 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.
24:51Not 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.
25:20It's all starting to come together.
25:22One of Donna's favourite features is a bespoke three metre long single slab oak worktop, which has been receiving a
25:32lot of attention.
25:33The worktop has now been sanded numerous times on different thickness sandpapers, so I think we're ready to start putting
25:44on the oil.
25:44So, um, fingers crossed.
25:52You'll see how some of it goes white.
25:54That's excess.
25:55And what the instructions say is I then have to wipe it off with a lint-free cloth so that
26:01it kind of soaks into the wood, but there's not too excess, which would stay cloudy rather than let the
26:06grain 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.
26:20I mean, you 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.
26:29So, this is a hatch that covers the grand turbine.
26:33Underneath the floor is one of the water mill's turbines, that for decades used the force of the river to
26:41generate 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, I'm hopeful that we use a bit of masking tape, place this in, gently tap it, we'll get a
26:59bit of an indentation that'll give us a hint for a clue as to where the recess needs to be.
27:05Once the masking tape's in, Paul uses a pencil to rub graphite over the metal, which then shows him the
27:13area 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.
28:01It's just a couple of screws to go.
28:02And then that'll be that fixed.
28:04It's another job done, but there are plenty more on the to-do list, including fitting an undermount sink in
28:13Donna's beloved oak worktop.
28:27Can I tighten this fully in place?
28:29I think so.
28:30Triple check, please.
28:32Yeah, that feels good.
28:34Okay.
28:43There you go.
28:51Every inch of the room has been carefully thought about, for good reason.
28:57I think for most people, you know, doing a utility room is, yeah, we're doing a utility room, you know,
29:03it's just where all the washing goes and the laundry goes and that.
29:06For us, it's the first room in the mill that we will complete and 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 and it just gives you that motivation to continue and do
29:22the next room and do the next room.
29:27Do you want to do the honours?
29:29Yeah.
29:30There you go.
29:32There you go.
29:33There you go.
29:36it's only taken four months to get that for you so that's ideal perfect it's been a long slog but
29:46Donna and Paul's dream of moving into the mill could be about to become a reality
30:00down in the Dordogne at Chateau von Grenier Flamand Malcolm and Helen are halfway through a tour of
30:07their new home as is the tradition in France the estate agent accompanies them before handing over
30:15the keys oh yeah this is going to be our bedroom this is lovely fantastic yeah see the views right
30:26the way over there into the hills yeah I love it it's gonna be amazing so peaceful us but I
30:32love
30:33about it as well yes great I love it you can really appreciate yeah you know it's lovely staircase as
30:47well
30:47there is though another area within the chateau that stole Malcolm's heart the wine cellar the estate may
30:58have its own vineyard but the chateau's previous owners seemed keen to broaden their horizons wine
31:07bottles it's really nice down here though isn't it it's nice and cool so you got any wine in it
31:16yes
31:17I think it's Chateau Saint Pierre 1983 by the looks of things
31:28that's a little bit creepy isn't it yeah not sure we'll be keeping that this is a great little room
31:38great temperature in here but the place does need some work roots of trees coming in here
31:47original masonry not quite original expanding foam yeah this will be a fun room I'm looking forward
31:54to doing this one and from today they can put their plan into practice everything we've been
32:02doing up till now has been on paper we did a floor plan but we need to really look at
32:07it and see whether
32:07what we're thinking we can do with it we can do with it I'm sort of thinking structurally where things
32:13are going to go whether the ideas I've had on paper are actually going to work in reality it's a
32:18beautiful looking chateau that I think we can make really special and here is the key to your new
32:23home thank you look at that hey we have a key as it's a new chapter in their chateau's story
32:32the
32:33couple are keen to make their mark it's our new sign and it's got Chateau Fongrenier because it's
32:41obviously Chateau Fongrenier but flammal because Malcolm my husband was always called Flamingo at
32:47school so flammal is Flamingo in French but Malcolm and Helen won't be standing still for long as they
32:56still have farm buildings and 30 acres of vineyards to explore up at Chateau de la Lasselle both fountains
33:10in the front garden now have a water supply so the next task is to install a drainage system my
33:20mom and Ash are busy with the digger and the tractor just getting all of the ground level I'm just
33:25in the
33:25fountain and I'm on with the next stage which is just getting the overflow and the drain sorted
33:38well that's the smaller piping now what I'll do is I'll feed it into a bigger pipe we'll cut some
33:43grooves in that just so it's going to allow the water to seep out and go into the soak away
33:47known
33:48as a French drain the perforated pipe ensures the fresh water is slowly released away from buildings
33:55and other structures that's a pipe in place we've got our base level of gravel and now what we can
34:02do is get another layer of gravel on top of it and then we can get our finishing layer of
34:05mud we want
34:06it all hidden so you don't actually see any of the sort of workings of the fountain I think it's
34:11worked
34:11out really well so we've got everything in place now all of the trenches are all filled in all of
34:18the
34:18pipe works in place and we've got our manhole in place as well inside we've now got our tap so
34:24we
34:24can actually turn on the fountains when we want so during summer we'll turn them on to fill up and
34:29then they'll have automatic feeder so whenever the water drops below the level it'll just fill it up
34:36I'll turn it on now give it a test to make sure that it all works
34:44it's working perfectly so it's filling up the fountain and the tap works fine and it's giving
34:49us easy access to it as well so once all of the grounds leveled and we get the layer of
34:54gravel on
34:55top of it hopefully it'll just meet up to the top of the manhole not just blend in seamlessly there's
35:00still quite a way to go yet obviously we need to get all of the brickwork pointed up get all
35:05of the
35:05the center sealed and then we can look at getting the fountains in place with the plumbing secured
35:11Terry and Ashley plan to build two impressive four-tier fountains to welcome their guests when
35:20we've got the fountains in place I think it'll just be a spectacular entrance to drive up to this
35:24have both the fountains going and all the gardens out here done and it's going to be out of this
35:28world
35:28yeah well it'll be tidier than what it is it won't be complete but it'll be a lot tidier and
35:34it'll
35:34be the start of what we're wanting they've made good progress but Terry and Ashley's fabulous fountains
35:42are still very much a fantasy coming up things don't go well for Malcolm and Helen so we've got
35:59lots of farm equipment that doesn't work and after a year and a half have Donna and Paul finally
36:07achieved their dream room number one down
36:17in southwest France Malcolm and Helen have just been given the keys to their stunning new home after
36:26exploring every nook and cranny inside there's one area that still remains a mystery their 30 acre vineyard
36:35and the buildings around it we're going to go down to the Chez and the Cove and also the shelters
36:43have a
36:43look at the farm equipment helping them work out what's what is the chateau's former estate manager
36:49Carl Pierre so Carl has been looking after the chateau for many years now on behalf of its previous
36:55owners this is normal walnut walnut this is pecan he's our man who is going to teach me how to
37:03make wine
37:04amongst other things here the chateau's vineyard last produced wine in 2006 here we have sauvignon gris
37:14and sauvignon blanc okay and since then the equipment has lain dormant but if Malcolm gets his way not for
37:24much longer eight concrete tanks the steel tanks fiber tanks the big press this is where the magic will
37:36happen when we get the grapes a bit of a cleaning job to do to get it up and running
37:42again so here's the
37:49shea the calf this is huge it's great isn't it the barrels may be empty but they're of the highest
37:58quality
37:59French oak which comes from the department of failure and very thin grain and and you you can
38:08smell it's very nice yeah so good yeah it's really good in the room next door are all that remains
38:22of
38:22the chateau's last harvest it's 2006 because we are appellation d'origine control a means it's a wine
38:31from the terroir it's not just a fruity wine so it can be aged for many years and we have
38:37eleven and
38:39a half thousand bottles of this so we're going to be good for the next week a 30 acre vineyard
38:46though
38:46can produce over 60 000 bottles so Malcolm and Helen have got a lot to learn I feel privileged I
38:54feel
38:54it's a bit of an honor to see whether we can recreate you know the success that this this vineyard
39:00used to
39:00have 20 years ago 30 years ago a bit of an adventure for us I'm really looking forward to it
39:05it's part of
39:05the reason why this whole chateau appeals to us but it's not just the vineyard that they need to bring
39:11back
39:11to life so we have tractors very old knackered tractors so we've got lots of farm equipment that
39:20doesn't work so we've got a got an exercise to try and make it all work got a key in
39:26it just doesn't
39:26have a battery to start it there is hope though this is a little bit of mildew yeah but as
39:39soon as it
39:39just one or two leaves we don't care this year of the sanitary conditions are quite exceptional so we
39:45don't need to treat a lot so there we go there's some down here great for the chateau's new Chatelain
39:55it's been a long day but also one they will never forget been looking at these bottles for a year
40:06wondering what they tasted like oh that's a good sound here you go let's find out try it smell it
40:15to me
40:17but then I don't really know about that oh it's very aged cheers cheers cheers darling here's to
40:29a new adventure in france yes for malcolm helen and their extraordinary new home it's definitely going to be a
40:39vintage year
40:48up near the coast of britney it's d-day for donna and paul today we're going to finish the utility
40:56room come makeshift kitchen yeah hopefully be the first room in the mill that'll be complete so that's a
41:04milestone and it's looking fabulous already so and it's not complete i know very exciting it's down to
41:13donna to finish the job i've already been filling up cupboards so i now need to just put the last
41:20bits
41:21and pieces in and then the room's done first room i think is the most important you know is everything
41:29in my head of how i see the mill looking eventually am i going to be able to pull that
41:34off and i think
41:36we have in the the utility um i'm really really pleased with it i think it's got that real industrial
41:43feel i think we've managed to incorporate a lot of the oak and that back in to the room as
41:48well so that
41:50gives the feel of you know its heritage and uh and it's certainly moody so i'm happy i'm very happy
42:11that's it done i think
42:16room number one down just over a year ago donna and paul fitted a new window in the facade
42:29shedding light on the grand turbine and a musty dark room above it
42:36it's rotting floor riddled with woodworm too dangerous even to step on
42:45the damp walls crumbling and covered in mold
42:50the ceiling ruined by rainwater every surface covered in decades of dust and dirt
43:00but today modern stone tiles metallic wallpaper and contemporary fittings have brought the room
43:10into the 21st century a new oak worktop complements the ancient beam above it
43:19all the skirtings and door frames are carved with a simple but elegant design
43:25and paul's handmade hatch gives access to the turbine below every inch carefully thought through
43:36the effect cool and calm perfectly designed and utterly practical
43:50i'm just so so pleased with this room it's a pretty slick utility room
43:55it is it's probably the slickest utility room i've ever had
44:01and the biggest utility room i'm absolutely over the moon it just looks beautiful
44:10what do you think you know yes nine 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 before they can even think of moving in
44:38next time ashley takes on a mega challenge it's always important that the first few that go in
44:44are right because if they're not all the lines in the garden are off always a bit nervous
44:50another couple muddled their way through can you remember how to do it no and it's a right carry-on
44:59for others
45:00i'm even running with it
45:03Oh, my God.
45:32Oh, my God.
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