- 3 hours 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 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 you have to do.
00:25..of restoring these timeless treasures.
00:28That's the first one, John. 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?
00:45..there'll be triumphs.
00:47It'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.
00:57However tough it gets...
00:59Ow! Stinging Nestle!
01:03..those who have made the leap...
01:06..get to live like kings and queens...
01:10..in their very own castle.
01:16..today.
01:17So you'll have to be very careful when you dig in.
01:19..one couple are in for a shock.
01:22It can be lethal when you've got electric, so I'll have to be careful
01:25and just make sure I don't hit any power lines.
01:28..another are on the brink of a breakthrough.
01:31For 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
01:56lies the stunning Chateau de la Lasselle.
02:00With 21 acres,
02:0425 characterful rooms
02:06and a beautiful spiral staircase,
02:11it had lain derelict for 40 years
02:14until it was bought by former pet shop owner Terry
02:17and 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
02:28that 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. No.
02:35Your deadlines are never, ever met.
02:37We just come together as a team
02:38and we make it work somehow.
02:42Just an hour's drive from Le Mans,
02:45the couple bought the Chateau for £250,000
02:49in 2021.
02:52Don't drop it.
02:53And began a dream restoration project.
02:57Hey!
02:59Creating magnificent holiday sweets.
03:03Joining them on their adventure
03:05are 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
03:24at 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 more ideas for our garden.
03:40The Chateau feels alive again.
03:42And there's at least 10 people that have said to me today
03:44it's a mini Versailles.
03:45Yeah, that's good.
03:49Today, they're hoping to reproduce the success
03:52they'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
04:02just so it's nice and formal so that when you arrive
04:05you'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,
04:17put all of the water feeds in.
04:18Well, I'm getting out my toys today so I've got my little digger
04:20and I'm just going to sit in that and be happy just digging away.
04:25And we'll do all the hard stuff.
04:28This isn't your average front garden though.
04:31At 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
04:43that supplies the on-site cottage, but 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.
04:54That'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? Yep.
05:01And then go from there and we're going to have a feed right the way across
05:04to that fountain and then one from there.
05:06We'll put a tee piece on to go to the other one.
05:08I've got some here.
05:14I think this is where the electrics run in,
05:17so I'll do an orange line there just so you know.
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,
05:27so I'll have to be careful, take my time,
05:29and just make 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,
05:48and over it, and then we can even do it by hand.
05:51So do it, like, a bit wider there,
05:53so I have to get to the pipe anywhere.
05:55Yeah.
05:56And then come that way.
06:03Obviously we don't want to pull a whole pipe up and then have to replace a whole lot,
06:06so I think we'll get most of it off and then we'll just do the rest by hand.
06:14So, we've uncovered the pipes.
06:16Luckily I 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,
06:22and 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,
06:57this once derelict former 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 remit for a new property was for it to be near water,
07:23and I think kind of when Paul found this, he kind of ticked that completely.
07:28I mean, it's on all sides and underneath the property,
07:32and actually when we first came it was coming through the roof as well.
07:37Yeah, we couldn't get any more water.
07:39Tick.
07:44Located just 12 miles from the coast, the abandoned building was in such disrepair
07:51that Donna and Paul managed to buy 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!
08:30Gosh, 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.
09:12How are you? Well, you're nearly there then.
09:15Yeah, 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.
09:52And 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, adds up.
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 that the extra tiles are in.
11:02Yeah.
11:03Very pleased.
11:05The tiles, though, are just the beginning, and there's a long way to go before Donna and Paul are cooking
11:13on 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 the key to 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, 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, where we...
12:15A scary new adventure starting in our lives, to be honest.
12:18A scary, exciting, where we'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?
12:33Looking for a new challenge, the Wiltshire couple's search brought them here.
12:39The magnificent Chateau Fongrenier Flamand.
12:44A 500-year-old, six-bedroom maison de maître, or manor house.
12:51Based near the vineyards of Bergerac in southwest France,
12:55the 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.
13:17Nice to see you, hi.
13:18Hi, Helen.
13:19Hi.
13:20Welcome.
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.
13:30Yeah.
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?
13:44I've forgotten how nice this was.
13:45It's quite impressive.
13:47Yeah.
13:47It 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.
13:55Can't wait to get my hands on it.
13:58Yes.
14:00So this is the grand room that was the dining room as well.
14:03Yes.
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.
14:17Oh, all in one room.
14:19Yes.
14:19So a big kitchen, sort of dining, sort of with chairs and sort of looking out through.
14:27Yes.
14:27That way.
14:29But Helen's not just knocking through.
14:32Yeah.
14:32Defending the radiators.
14:34Yeah, yeah.
14:36This 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?
14:46And while Helen's thinking ahead, Malcolm's unlocking the past.
14:51I've got the keys here.
14:53Yes.
14:54Are you going to spare me?
14:55I wanted to spare you.
15:01Still going.
15:03Oh, my God, Lord.
15:05Just a few to keep you occupied.
15:07Yes.
15:07I'm going to leave that to you.
15:09Thanks.
15:09I'm looking forward to dancing.
15:13In one of the five salons.
15:16Oh, that's better.
15:18Better 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.
15:43Riff 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.
15:56This is a really beautiful one, isn't it?
16:00I like the stonework on it and 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.
16:12Malcolm 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-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, 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
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.
17:04I 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.
17:29I'm going to give Donna a hand with the first one so she knows what 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.
17:52Oh, 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.
18:13It's nice.
18:15Wanting everything to be perfect, Donna gives the planks a fine sanding, while 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, 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.
18:55How are you getting on?
19:00How are you?
19:01You're not here, mate.
19:02How are you getting on?
19:04OK.
19:05I've sanded those.
19:08We've obviously got some, like, cleaning marks in them from when they went through the thickness of the bracket.
19:13I kind of think they add a bit of...
19:15Yeah.
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.
19:23You 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.
19:44It 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.
20:31We'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 and she's happy with the spades, so...
20:57Yeah.
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 her 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.
21:30Yeah.
21:30Okay, Doc, then.
21:31Let's crack on.
21:32Yeah.
21:36There we go.
21:39There we go.
21:41There we go.
21:42There we go.
21:43There 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, we've got our water for each, so get this in, see how far it goes and then we can
22:10get 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, if you want to start filling it back in again.
22:30Yeah, get it all backfilled.
22:31Yeah.
22:32It's digger time.
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 the water that's actually in the pipe work.
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.
23:18It should, it'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 some wall grips just to tap that down.
23:34Tap what?
23:35Tap, tap 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.
23:49You 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, I think.
23:57So I can start tightening it up now.
24:01Max pressure!
24:07Well done.
24:09Well done.
24:09Well done.
24:09That was nice and easy.
24:13Oh my God.
24:14I'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.
24:39Do you want to do the honors?
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,
25:29which has been receiving a lot of attention.
25:34The worktop has now been sanded numerous times on different thickness sandpapers.
25:42So I think we're ready to start putting on the oil.
25:45So, fingers crossed.
25:52You'll see how some of it goes white.
25:54That'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,
26:03which 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.
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.
26:30So, this is a hatch that covers the grand turbine.
26:33Underneath the floor is one of the water mill's turbines
26:37that 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 recessed 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 tape's 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.
27:32&
27:37&
27:42&
27:43&
27:43&
27:43&
28:02and then that'll be that fixed it's another job done but there are plenty more on the to-do list
28:10including fitting an undermount sink in donna's beloved oak worktop
28:26can i tighten this fully in place i think so triple check please
28:32yeah that feels good okay
28:43there you go
28:51every inch of the room has been carefully thought about for good reason i think for most people you
28:59know doing the utility rumors yeah we're doing the utility room you know it's just where all the
29:04washing goes and the laundry goes and that for us it's the first room in in the mill that we
29:10will
29:11complete and it's it's really exciting i mean it's the beginning of us living here it's the start of
29:18new life for it and it just gives you that motivation to continue and do the next room and do
29:24the next
29:24room
29:27do you want to do the honors
29:36it's only taking four months to get that for you so
29:40that's what i do perfect it's been a long slog but donna and paul's dream of moving into the mill
29:49and that's what i do
29:58down in the dark doyne at chateau von grenier flamand
30:04malcolm and helen are halfway through a tour of their new home as is the tradition in france the
30:11estate agent accompanies them before handing over the keys oh yeah this is going to be our bedroom
30:19this is lovely fantastic yeah see the views right the way over there into the hills yeah i love it
30:28it's going to be amazing so peaceful that's what i love about it as well
30:36yes great
30:42i love it you can really appreciate yeah yeah you know it's lovely staircase as well
30:48there is though another area within the chateau that stole malcolm's heart the wine cellar
30:56the estate may have its own vineyard but the chateau's previous owners seemed keen to broaden their
31:04horizons all the wine bottles oh it's really nice down here though isn't it it's nice and cool
31:14has it got any wine in it yes i think it's chateau saint-pierre 1983 by the looks of things
31:28that's a little bit creepy isn't it
31:31yeah not sure we'll be keeping that
31:36yeah this is a great little room great temperature in here but the place does need some work roots of
31:44trees coming in here original masonry and not quite original expanding foam
31:51yeah this will be fun room i'm looking forward to doing this one and from today they can put their
31:58plan into practice everything we've been doing up till now has been on paper we did a floor plan
32:05but we need to really look at it and see whether what we're thinking we can do with it we
32:09can do with
32:10it i'm sort of thinking structurally where things are going to go whether the ideas i've had on paper
32:16are actually going to work in reality it's a beautiful looking chateau that i think we can make
32:21really special and here is the key to your new home thank you look at that hey we have the
32:27key as it's
32:30a new chapter in their chateau's story the couple are keen to make their mark tiny sign and it's got
32:39chateau fangrenier because this is obviously chateau fangrenier but flamont because malcolm
32:45my husband was always called flamingo at school so flamont is flamingo in french but malcolm and helen
32:53won't be standing still for long as they still have farm buildings and 30 acres of vineyards to explore
33:06up at chateau de la laselle both fountains in the front garden now have a water supply
33:14so the next task is to install a drainage system my mom and ash are busy with the
33:21digger and the tractor just getting all of the ground level i'm just in the fountain and i'm
33:26on 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
33:42we'll cut some grooves in that just so it's going to allow the water to seep out and go into
33:47the
33:47soak away known as a french drain the perforated pipe ensures the fresh water is slowly released
33:54away from buildings and other structures that's a pipe in place we've got our base level of gravel
34:00and now what we can do is get another layer of gravel on top of it and then we can
34:04get our finishing
34:05layer of mud we want it all hidden so you don't actually see any of the sort of workings of
34:10the fountain i think it's worked out really well
34:15so we've got everything in place now all of the trenches are all filled in all the pipe works in
34:19place and we've got our manhole in place as well inside we've now got our tap so we can actually
34:24turn
34:25on the fountains when we want so during summer we'll turn them on to fill up and then they'll have
34:29a 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 us
34:50easy access to it as well so once all of the grounds leveled and we get the layer of gravel
34:55on top of it
34:56hopefully it'll just meet up to the top of the manhole not just blend in seamlessly there's still quite a
35:01way to go yet obviously we need to get all of the brickwork pointed up get all of the center
35:05sealed
35:06and then we can look at getting the fountains in place with the plumbing secured terry and ashley
35:13plan to build two impressive four-tier fountains to welcome their guests when we've got the fountains
35:20in place i think it'll just be a spectacular entrance to drive up to this have both the fountains going
35:25and all the gardens out here done and it's going to be out of this world yeah well it'll be
35:29tidier
35:30than where it is it won't be complete but it'll be a lot tidier and it'll be the start of
35:36what we're
35:36wanting they've made good progress but terry and ashley's fabulous fountains are still very much a fantasy
35:50coming up
35:55things don't go well for malcolm and helen so we've got lots of farm equipment that doesn't work
36:02and after a year and a half have donna and paul finally achieved their dream room number one down
36:17in southwest france malcolm and helen have just been given the keys to their stunning new home
36:26after exploring every nook and cranny inside there's one area that still remains a mystery
36:34their 30 acre vineyard and the buildings around it we're going to go down to the shea and the
36:41cave and also the shelter to have a look at the farm equipment helping them work out what's what
36:47is the chateau's former estate manager carl pierre so carl has been looking after the chateau for many
36:53years now on behalf of its previous owners this is normal walnut walnut this is pecan
37:01he's our man who is going to teach me how to make wine amongst other things here
37:06the chateau's vineyard last produced wine in 2006. here we have sauvignon gris and sauvignon blanc
37:15okay and since then the equipment has lain dormant but if malcolm gets his way not for much longer
37:28eight concrete tanks the steel tanks fiber tanks the big press
37:34and this is where the magic will happen when we get the grapes
37:39a bit of a cleaning job to do to get it up and running again
37:48so here's the shea the calf this is huge it's great isn't it the barrels may be empty but they're
37:57of the highest quality french oak which comes from the department of hallier and very thin grain and
38:07um and you you can smell it's very nice yeah so good
38:12oh it does smell lovely doesn't it yeah it smells good
38:15really good in the room next door are all that remains of the chateau's last harvest
38:25it's 2006 because we are appellation d'origine control means it's a wine from the terroir
38:32it's not just a fruity wine so it can be aged for many years and we have 11 and a
38:39half thousand
38:39bottles of this so we're going to be good for the next week a 30 acre vineyard though can produce
38:47over
38:4760 000 bottles so malcolm and helen have got a lot to learn i feel privileged i feel it's a
38:55bit of an
38:55honor to see whether we can recreate you know the success that this this vineyard used to have 20 years
39:01ago 30 years ago a bit of an adventure for us i'm really looking forward to it it's part of
39:05the reason
39:05why this whole chateau appeals to us but it's not just the vineyard that they need to bring back to
39:12life
39:15so we have tractors very old knackered tractors so we've got lots of farm equipment that doesn't work
39:21so we've got a got an exercise to try and make it all work got a key in it just
39:26doesn't have a battery to
39:32start it there is hope though this is a little bit of mildew yeah but as soon as it's just
39:40one
39:40or two leaves we don't care this year the sanitary conditions are quite exceptional so we don't need
39:46to treat a lot so there we go there's some down here oh you've got grapes for the chateau's new
39:55chatelain it's been a long day oh but also one they will never forget been looking at these bottles
40:06for a year wondering what they tasted like oh that's a good sound here you go let's find out try
40:12it
40:14smell it to me but then i don't really know about that oh it's very aged cheers cheers cheers
40:28darling here's to a new adventure in france yes for malcolm helen and their extraordinary new home
40:36it's definitely going to be a vintage 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
40:57come makeshift kitchen yeah hopefully be the first room in the mill that'll be complete so
41:04that's a milestone and it's looking fabulous already so and it's not complete i know very exciting
41:12it's down to donna to finish the job i've already been filling up cupboards so uh i now need to
41:20just
41:20put the last bits and pieces in and then the room's done first room i think is the most important
41:27you know
41:28is everything in my head of how i see the mill looking eventually am i going to be able to
41:34pull
41:34that off and i think we have in the utility um i'm really really pleased with it i think it's
41:41got that
41:42real industrial feel i think we've managed to incorporate a lot of the oak and that back in to
41:48the room as well so that gives the feel of you know its heritage and uh and it's certainly moody
41:57so i'm happy i'm very happy
42:11that's it done i think
42:17room number one down
42:18just over a year ago donna and paul fitted a new window in the facade shedding light on the grand
42:32turbine and a musty dark room above it its rotting floor riddled with woodworm too dangerous even to step
42:43on the damp walls crumbling and covered in mold the ceiling ruined by rainwater every surface covered
42:56in decades of dust and dirt
43:01but today modern stone tiles metallic wallpaper and contemporary fittings have brought the room into
43:10the 21st century a new oak worktop compliments the ancient beam above it all the skirtings and door
43:21frames are carved with a simple but elegant design and paul's handmade hatch gives access to the turbine
43:31below every inch carefully thought through the effect cool and calm
43:40perfectly designed and utterly practical
43:50i'm just so so pleased with this room it's a pretty slick utility room it is
43:57it's probably the slickest utility room i've ever had and the biggest utility room i am
44:04absolutely over the moon it just looks beautiful well done what do you think you know yes
44:14nine out of ten cats prefer it
44:20donna 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
44:37next time ashley takes on a mega challenge it's always important that the first few that go in are
44:45right because if they're not all the lines in the garden are off always a bit nervous
44:51another couple muddled their way through can you remember how to do it no and it's a right carry on
44:59another one for others i may have been running with it
45:04another one for others i may have been running with it no longer
45:06so
45:08so
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