Creuse: The French Manor House

Episode Information Creuse: The French Manor House

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Date Published:
12/06/2008

Deni Daniel and Doug Ibbs don't hang around. The couple, in their mid-50's and from Dorset, bought a 19th century manor house in Creuse, Limousin - in central France - on a Sunday, having seen it for the first time ever on the previous Tuesday on the Internet and visited it on the Thursday. They don't mind hard work too, which is even better news because the house was a wreck.

Roof beams. Creuse: The French Manor House

Untouched in 60 years, during which time it had fallen into ruin, after being burned to the ground in 1944 by retreating German soldiers who suspected the French resistance had used the place during WWII, the five-storey house's roof had long-since disappeared, the gable ends were unsound, the beams were mostly rotten and the grounds completely overgrown.

Compensating for their lack of building experience (they had 'made over' a house in Dorset) with enthusiasm, Deni and Doug sold up in the UK, moved to the sparsely populated area, applied for and were granted planning permission and hired a local builder, Monsieur Grizon, although they planned to do the lion's share of the work themselves - and a stonemason, Jean-Claude Russeaux.

Stonemason

The stonemason's first job was to shore up the crumbling walls, where the plaster could be lifted off in chunks, spraying the interior walls with concrete to provide the building with a new skeleton.

Next, was making sound the top of the building on which they could build the roof, a job that was to test not only everyone's practical skills but also the couple's ability to communicate in a language they barely understood on arrival.

Roofing tiles: Creuse, The French Manor House

Misunderstanding

A simple misunderstanding of one word by Doug, thinking the stonemason wanted to remove and replace a whole chimney, rather than one brick, caused a certain amount of suspicion on both sides and a day's delay, something the couple could ill-afford if they were to achieve their goal of having the house operating as a small chamber d'hote (B&B) within 12 months.

The communication problem resolved, at least temporarily, the chimney and gable ends made safe, and the concrete roof platform at the top of the building in place, the builder, Monsieur Grizon, and his team returned to construct the wooden frame on which the slates would be placed - when they arrived from China.

Conscious of costs - and with a budget of just £140,000 to renovate the whole house - Doug and Deni had sourced the slates over the Internet at a considerable saving but an earthquake in China meant it would be five months before the slates would eventually arrive. Undeterred by the set back, the couple fashioned a temporary roof and pressed on.

The Bedroom, Creuse, The French Manor House

Working seven days a week, 14 hours a day, and living in a wooden chalet beside the house, the couple lived and breathed the restoration, undertaking jobs neither of them had even considered previously. Deni tiled the bathrooms, while Doug made a staircase - after reading a book on how to do it - and together they cut and installed dozens of ten-metre long supporting beams.

Progress

Slowly but surely progress was made. The external walls were repointed using traditional lime mortar, the windows and doors were hung, the dark-grey roof slates arrived and were fitted, being held in place by steel clips invisible to the naked eye from down below, and the ground and first floor rooms on either side of the three-metre wide hallway began to take shape.

Internally, from the outset it had been Doug and Deni's plan was to concentrate on renovating the ground and first floor, before moving on to the second, cellar and attic, where they thought they might install a gym for their guests' use. On the ground floor the kitchen and a grand living room began to take shape, and on the first floor their own and five guest bedrooms with en suite bathrooms were prepared in readiness for decoration.

Scouring furniture warehouses and antique shops, the couple picked up for a song large, traditional dark wood pieces that could have been made for their substantial manor house. The furniture would sit well in the light and airily painted rooms where they had also attempted to replace original features, including the door handles and light fittings - fixtures that the previous owners of the house would have recognised.

Dining stove, Creuse, The French Manor House

A Surprise Visit

The descendants of the previous owners visited Doug and Deni to witness the restoration of their former family home with a mixture of admiration and incredulity - 'how and why would anyone want to do this but thanks goodness they are'. It was a reaction that the couple were to hear from other locals, who welcomed their efforts, including their immediate neighbours and the local mayor.

Fourteen months after beginning the adventure the couple have restored the majority of the house to stunning effect. Few, Kevin included, believed that with their building inexperience, relatively modest budget, and basic grasp of the French language they could succeed, but with determination, application and self-belief, Deni and Doug have proved that anything is truly possible.

The Detail

  • The grounds were so overgrown that 100 trees to cut back and cleared to give access to the house and site.
  • A concrete ring beam and block were installed at the tope of the house on which the roof was placed.
  • Approximately 80 joists were replaced as the existing ones had rotted in the intervening years.
  • The external walls had to be washing down and brushed clean before repointing could begin.
  • The 24 windows were made to measure and installed by a local carpenter.
  • The roof slates are held in place by a system of steel clips that are invisible to the naked eye from the ground.
  • Internally, modern plasterboard and insulation materials were used as speed was of the essence.
  • Authentic door handles were sourced and fitted, showing an attention to detail.

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Comments

  1. Having seen this programme several times, I thought I would try and find the house this week as I was driving home to UK from southern France. I drove into Bourganeuf thinking the house was there. I stopped on a hill to look for the house little realising that it was some distance from the town near Vidaillat. I'm staying only 50kms away now. so I'm looking forward to seeing it soon. It is such an incredible story how this couple turned a ruin into a wonderful building. It takes me long enough to decorate one room at home! I just don't know how they did it.What a wonderful achievement.Anyone thinking of renovating a building should watch this programme. I just can't wait to stay there and see it. Denny and Doug deserve a medal for their efforts!
    Posted by John Moore on 21/10/2009 22:53:26
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  2. Wiewing this programme was mesmerising. The sheer determination of this lovely english couple to do so much themselves was unbelievable and such perfection achieved, for the benefit of not only themselves, but the villagers, the region and the french country. As a french person often travelling through France, lenghthway and widthway to explore the beauty of my country, on my way down to Argeles-sur-mer (Pyrenees Orientales) where i have a little flat, I would love to be able to stay at Denny and Doug's Manor, to contemplate the work they achieved. I would like to have their email address. That tv programme is the most memorable programme i ever saw on any country's tv i ever watched! I would not tire of seeing it again and again, say every 3 months? Each time there is something new i had not picked up previously. Thank you not only to this marvellous couple but whoever had the idea to make it on film...
    Posted by Myriam Emard-Doggett on 15/08/2009 12:07:56
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  3. Ivideod the programme and a 'friend' has inadvertently erased it! Is it available for purchase anywhere? I would be grateful for info
    Posted by JERRY on 19/07/2009 17:05:12
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  4. This is our favorite grand design.Please can you send me details of how to get in touch with Doug and Deni with a view to staying at the manor house. Yours Pete
    Posted by Peter Hodgson on 16/05/2009 20:29:39
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  5. I wasn't feeling well in the night and so I went downstairs and switched on the TV. This episode was being shown and I quickly became absolutely captivated by the incredible determination of this couple. The results are stunning and although when the programme was made, an awful lot of work still lay ahead, the enthusiasm and spirit these people, will I'm sure have carried them through to a superb completion of the project. Excellent TV and a real inspiration.
    Posted by Charlie on 15/05/2009 18:07:26
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  6. A fantastic achievement in a wonderfull place.We watched the programe in awe of this dedicated couple.Can you help with an email address please.
    Posted by Roger & Pauline Mansbridge on 23/03/2009 15:55:43
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  7. We have just booked a few days stay with Doug and Denny and really looking forward to it. The email reply we had from them was lovely, they seem such nice people. The place looks wonderful and the rooms look very tastfully done, well done to the both of them. Many of us have a dream of doing something like this, but Doug and Denny really did it and made a grat job of it too.
    Posted by Jennie Dudley on 10/03/2009 14:04:25
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  8. We stayed at Chez Jallot in 2007 - the house is great and Denni and Doug are wonderful hosts. Would thoroughly recommend this as a place to experience hospitality of a high order in a delightful corner of France away from the stresses and strains of modern life.
    Posted by Alan Brown on 04/02/2009 21:33:26
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  9. fantastic programme! would like some info on equipment used particularly the system of pointing stonework as i have a large amount to do myself, could this sort of info be added to the website? thanks david webster carry on the good work
    Posted by david webster on 01/12/2008 15:07:30
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  10. just watched this episode on more4 for the third time and was wondering if the manor house is now open for paying guests.if you can please supply an e-mail address that would be great. regards dave patrickson
    Posted by cruese:the french manor house on 26/11/2008 18:41:09
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  11. Because I have seen the Grand Design programmes out of sync and at various times due to travelling, would it be possible to date the first showing of each programme, please? It is possible that I am not the only person who would appreciate this. The one episode that I think is the most remarkable is the restoration is the manor house in the Creuse.
    Posted by Jan Barnwell on 23/09/2008 18:27:27
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  12. Hi K Pratt, here is the website for the French Manor House http://www.chezjallot.com
    Posted by Natasha Pettit on 06/09/2008 01:16:48
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  13. Hi, we have just watched this in NZ and would love to hear how this is going, if anyone ever has any info at anytime would be cool to hear...
    Posted by frances on 30/08/2008 10:11:28
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  14. Having a believe in what you love can make dream come true. Amazing job this couple has done!!!!
    Posted by A Yeh on 30/08/2008 09:39:20
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  15. Have just watched this episode again. Its always amazing to see how much can be done if you have enough vision and drive to do it. I have also been looking for the manor house and have found success!! The web site is www.chezjallot.com and just like the work Deni and Doug did to the house the web site is exellent. It is jam packed with fab info and pictures. I will definately be putting it on my list of places to visit.
    Posted by K. Gordon on 16/08/2008 16:57:01
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  16. Very good program love to see this over and over again been trying to find the Manor House to may be have an holiday there but no success as yet.
    Posted by K Pratt on 11/08/2008 20:10:06
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