Contents
- 1 How much was Escape to the Chateau bought for?
- 2 How much did the Strawbridge family pay for the chateau?
- 3 Has Escape to the Chateau been sold?
- 4 Has Angel Strawbridge lost weight?
- 5 Who inherits Escape to the Chateau?
- 6 Does Stephanie still own the chateau?
- 7 How much did the pethericks pay for their chateau?
- 8 What did Angel Adoree do before Escape to the Chateau?
- 9 What happened to Jonathan and Michael from Escape to the Chateau?
- 10 How much did the pethericks pay for their chateau?
- 11 How much was paid for the chateau?
How much was the chateau on Channel 4?
The couple bought their chateau for £280,000 and it is now reportedly worth approximately £2 million. As well as enjoying their lifestyle in their gorgeous home, they also hire out the venue for weddings to bring in a healthy income.
Why did Channel 4 cancel Escape to the Chateau?
Escape to the Chateau’s Dick and Angel dropped by Channel 4 over bullying claims.
How much was Escape to the Chateau bought for?
Where is the Escape to the Chateau castle? – Chateau de la Motte Husson is based in Pays de la Loire, near Nantes in France. Owners Dick and Angel bought their 45-room chateau – which has 78 windows, 12 acres and one moat – for just £280,000 in 2015. However, the property had stood empty for 40 years, and with no electricity, heating or running water, they have been renovating it as part of their TV show ever since.
Who owns the rights to Escape to the Chateau?
Inside the Escape to the Chateau property owned by Dick and Angel Strawbridge Dick and Angel Strawbridge are the owners of the 19th-century chateau in Martigné-sur-Mayenne, France, which provides the setting for popular programme, However, the show ended in December 2022 after rumours emerged of “a deteriorating relationship between Two Rivers and Dick and Angel’s Chateau TV for various reasons”.
Now, it has been reported that the couple are, In 2015, and completely transformed it. The property had stood empty for 40 years with no electricity, heating or running water before the purchase. What is the chateau like inside now? After lots of renovation and TLC, the property has 45 rooms with vintage interiors, a moat, 12 acres of grounds and even a home for Angel’s parents to live in, too.
The Orangery, a beautiful Art Deco-style outhouse with large glass windows, is rented out by the couple as a wedding venue, and is also where the pair got married during the show’s first series. At the beginning of the series, they completely transformed the neglected building into an idyllic setting for wedding breakfasts and ceremonies.
- The property also has a large workshop, in which Dick carries out his many projects during the show.
- Elsewhere, the chateau has 12 acres of grounds, surrounded by a walled garden.
- Within the wild gardens on the property’s land is an indoor “winter garden”, which is a tiled conservatory-style outhouse among the nature in their garden, surrounded by trees, bushes and plants.
“The Chateau’s winter garden is a beautiful spot to relax with a coffee on a chilly morning,” wrote the couple on Instagram. There is a lot of evidence of Angel’s interest in retro furniture and design that has gone into the home’s new look post-renovation.
In the main bathroom, there is a restored vintage bath that Angel found on the side of the road and repainted herself to keep the costs of the home’s interiors down during the expensive renovation period.One room, which Angel calls the “wallpaper room”, has its walls adorned with different cuttings from vintage rolls of Harlequin wallpaper that Angel discovered stored in the chateau’s attic when they moved in.Within the loft of one part of the chateau is a hidden bar, decorated with vintage velvet bar stools, with views of the French countryside and a telescope for stargazing.
It is unknown if the Strawbridge family will open up the chateau again to the public, but it has been reported that theirfollowing the end of the series., : Inside the Escape to the Chateau property owned by Dick and Angel Strawbridge
How much did the Strawbridge family pay for the chateau?
The couple bought their Chateau for £280,000 and it is now reportedly worth approximately £2 million. As well as enjoying their lifestyle in their gorgeous home, they also hire out the venue for weddings to bring in a healthy income.
Did the Strawbridges sell their chateau?
Renovation – In 2015, the estate was sold by the Baglion de la Dufferie family to British television presenter Dick Strawbridge and his partner Angela for £280,000. At the time of sale, the château had no basic electricity, sewerage, or heating. Over the following years, the couple, along with their children and Angela’s parents, restored the property and the outlying buildings with the help of friends, family, and numerous fans of the show who have paid up to £75 a head to help with renovations.
Additional funding for the project has come from a television series called Escape to the Chateau, broadcast on the British channel Channel 4 and devoted to recording the renovation, reuse, and upgrading of the château into a home and family business. Some members of the de Baglion family still live in the area.
In 2021, Dick Strawbridge said about them: “They have been nothing but welcoming and continued to maintain the property even after we had paid our deposit”. A full nine seasons were filmed, with the ninth and final season starting to air in the UK on 30 October 2022.
Is Escape to the Chateau finishing?
Escape to the Chateau aired its final series in late 2022 Watch the video below to see Angel open up about the atmosphere on set while filming the final episode
Has Escape to the Chateau been sold?
Are the Strawbridges selling their cheateau? – Dick and Angel purchased the chateau in France’s Martigné-sur-Mayenne for £280,000 in 2015, but it had no electricity, sewage or heating, and the show followed the pair renovating and restoring it. The stunning 45-bedroom mansion, Chateau-de-la-Motte Husson, is now a completely different property and the couple have not shared plans to sell it. Dick and Angel still live in the chateau (Picture: Channel 4) Their website describes the chateau as still ‘teeming with life and activity, not only courtesy of our children Arthur and Dorothy, who simply love exploring their very own ‘castle’, but with guests.’ The couple also offers weddings at the chateau, but it’s currently a two-year waitlist! However, another one of their properties that featured on the spin-off show Escape to the Chateau DIY, is up for sale.
The chateau located in Saint-Maixent-l’ecole is being sold for around £710,000. The listing reads: ‘Recently restored, this beautiful residence is a magnificent family home while offering a wealth of options for a special events/accommodation activity.’ Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Escape to the Chateau’s Dick and Angel Strawbridge wanted to end series ‘on a high’ before Channel 4 cut ties MORE : Where is the chateau from Channel 4’s Escape to the Chateau?
Is Escape to the Chateau axed?
Channel 4 has announced the new hosts of a brand-new DIY show after a popular series was axed over bullying claims. Channel 4 has axed Escape to the Chateau – but has moved to fill the void with a new show. Keith Brymer Jones of Pottery Throw Down will host a new DIY property show alongside Marj Hogarth.
- A TV insider told the Sun newspaper: “Fans of Escape to the Chateau will love this new show.
- Eith is a much-loved member of the Love Productions and Channel 4 family.
- It made sense for him to have his own show as he and Marj undertake this extraordinary passion project – restoring a very beautiful and quintessentially British building, a church, to life.
READ MORE This Morning will vet phone-ins to stop viewers mentioning Phillip Schofield scandal “The pair then let in the public to experience a little slice of their creative world where they can share their passion and enthusiasm.” Escape to the Chateau stars Dick Strawbridge and Angel Adoree’s show wrapped up last December.
In the wake of an investigation into allegations of bullying behind-the-scenes, Dick and Angel’s production company also severed ties with the pair. According to Deadline, who spoke to three of Dick and Angel’s former colleagues, the decision came after an internal review of the situation. A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said: “Following a review, we have taken the decision not to work with Dick and Angel on any new productions in the future.” Meanwhile, production company Two Rivers Media backed the decision.
It said: “We can confirm that we will no longer work with Dick and Angel and cannot comment further at the moment.” A show insider said: “They don’t suffer fools. People who try to remote manage them from the UK, that doesn’t work. Or people who come into their house and boss them around, that doesn’t work either.” “I have seen them swearing at people,” another source said.
Has Angel Strawbridge lost weight?
Weight Loss of Angel Strawbridge Before and After – In 2009, Angel Strawbridge began her weight loss journey. She has mastered her dietary habits and monitors her heart rate and weight daily. She claims that it took a month to observe weight loss results when she began exercising.
She meticulously monitors her diet and restricts her snacking. She also consumes a great deal of water and avoids sugary meals. Before beginning her weight loss quest, she weighed 176 pounds or 80 kilograms; she shed around 33 pounds after striving to lower her body fat percentage and improve her health.
Angel Strawbridge now weighs around 143 pounds (65 KG). In addition, her height of 5’6″ and body mass index of 23.1 m / kg2 indicate that she belongs inside the typical healthy group. Her social meida accounts are: Twitter, Instagram,
How much does it cost to stay for one night in Escape to the Chateau?
One dome costs £350 but for both domes – maximum four adults and two children – it’s £600 per night. To stay in the chateau itself is more expensive. While you can’t stay in the chateau as an overnight guest, wedding events can cost a minimum of £5,850.
Who inherits Escape to the Chateau?
The son of Dick Strawbridge has announced that his half siblings will inherit their parents’ incredible Escape to the Chateau home. Channel 4 ‘s Escape to the Chateau star Dick, 63, and his wife Angel Adoree, 44, own the 45-bedroom Château de la Motte-Husson in the Mayenne area of France.
Arthur, nine and Dorothy, eight, live in the palatial pile in northern France with their parents. James, 38, who stars in new BBC cooking show Strawbridge Over the Drawbridge and also features in Escape to the Chateau, has now opened up about the future of the incredible home. “When you go to the chateau, the work being done with the renovation is quite quick compared to when you look at a house with a 500-year history,” he said.
“It’s definitely more intense at the chateau than at these houses I visit, “Arthur and Dorothy’s great-grandchildren – in many years’ time and like one of the next generations – will probably have a bit more of a chilled-out vibe,” he told Express.co.uk, Dick and Angel have lovingly restored the chateau ( Image: Channel 4) Dick’s eldest son said his father and Angel are still in the process of “establishing” the Neo-Renaissance style chateau and praised the pair for their hard work. James and his sister Charlotte, 36, are from Dick’s relationship with his first wife Brigit A.
Weiner, who he was married to from 1982-2010. Speaking about having a stepson close to her own age, Angel told NetMums’ podcast Sweat, Snot & Tears : “Me and James, we get on really, really well – we’re always talking about he’s a real foodie and completely fabulous. “He’s really handsome, my nan had a massive crush on him!” she added.
“Whenever we used to go over to my nan’s house – she lived in East London – she’d be like, ‘How’s James?!'” James has inherited his dad’s love of cooking ( Image: BBC) Angel added that she loves her step-kids “to bits” and hopes they see her as a friend. Viewers couldn’t wait for the new series of Escape to the Chateau to return to Channel 4 after the Strawbridges were forced to take a two-year hiatus due to the Covid.
However, they were soon upset when the narrator revealed it would be the family’s “final chapter”. Viewers were disheartened by the announcement, with several taking to Twitter to express their dismay. In a statement, Dick and Angel said: “It’s our finale of the classic Escape to the Chateau, it’s been an adventure of a lifetime and we could never have imagined what would unfold.
The good, the bad and the uglywe have cherished every second and love that we have a visual record to show Arthur and Dorothy when they’re older. “We are so grateful for all the love and supportand we promise to continue our adventures with you, just in a different way, as we venture outside the gates of the Chateau and explore the wonderful country we live in.
How do the Strawbridges afford the chateau?
Dick and Angel reveal secret to budgeting for 45-bedroom chateau Updated: 13:19 BST, 14 December 2018
- They’ve become experts at renovating on a budget, and now Dick and have revealed just how they approached breathing new life into the vast, crumbling castle in the Loire Valley they snapped up for £280,000.
- Leaving their French pile behind for the This Morning studio, the couple – who star in the hit docu-series Escape to the Chateau – explained how they’ve learned to always have a plan in place when it comes to DIY.
- After spending the savings they had accrued on initial essentials when they moved in, they immediately started offering the chateau as a wedding venue, and designated the income from each individual booking to a specific project – and never dipping into it for anything else.
- But it doesn’t always go according to plan, they admitted, with Angel having splurged on repainting despite Dick having told her not to spend the extra money until the whole house is complete.
- Now on its fifth series, Channel 4’s Escape to the Chateau has followed the ambitious couple as they set about renovating the 45-bedroom Château-de-la-Motte Husson in France, which they bought in 2014.
- The popular couple charmed This Morning viewers too, with fans at home calling them ‘fun, lovely people’ on Twitter.
Dick and Angel Strawbridge left their French chateau behind to reveal how their renovations are coming along on ITV’s This Morning Viewers gushed over the pair’s appearance on the daytime show, as they spoke about their renovation plans The couple have juggled their wedding events business with castle renovations and raising their children Arthur, five, and Dorothy, three.
- She added that it mattered where they assigned projects with the money they received from bookings: ‘Each wedding we got booked in we allocated it to a sink or a bathroom.’
- Now four years down the line the couple preside over a small team of employees who help manage events and wedding preparations – as seen in one episode of this series.
- Dick said that they had around 80 per cent of the chateau itself completed, but there are still some huge projects leftover – not including the outbuildings scattered around the grounds.
- Viewers said of the pair: ‘Absolutely love Dick and Angel!’
- ‘Dick and Angel, what lovely people,’ added another.
Now on its fifth series, Channel 4’s Escape to the Chateau has followed the ambitious couple as they set about renovating the 45-bedroom Château-de-la-Motte Husson in France, which they bought in 2014 for £280,000 Viewers love the couple’s relationship and the Channel 4 show has proved increasingly popular as the chateau renovation comes towards an end They have completed about 80 per cent of the renovations on the castle, setting up a wedding business as well as turning their hands to a glamping site on the grounds in the latest series Dick opened up about battling with Angel’s desire to keep touching up completed rooms.
- Angle said she liked to get her paints together whenever Dick was out of town saying: ‘He’s away this weekend and he’s going to come back to a treat!’
- Having completed the majority of the work on doing up the French castle, which is located in the scenic Loire Valley, the duo have now turned their attention to setting up a new glamping business within the sprawling grounds.
- This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10.30pm, Escape to the Chateau airs Sundays on Channel 4 at 8pm
: Dick and Angel reveal secret to budgeting for 45-bedroom chateau
Do the French watch Escape to the Chateau?
Why does Escape to the Chateau not air in France? – Although the episodes are available to watch in the UK, they also stream in other countries across the world, including America. In fact, 40 territories air the episodes as fans internationally learn what they can do to bring a fresh lease of life into their homes.
Unfortunately, France is not one of these regions and it is the couple who made this demand to the broadcasting agencies. According to Dick and Angel, they don’t want to be seen as a “celebrity couple” in the country they now call home. Therefore, they refuse to let French networks air their shows as they want to keep their life as private as possible.
READ MORE: Vera’s Brenda Blethyn ‘horrified’ by change to DCI Vera Stanhope Dick explained to The Telegraph: “We are very normal and that’s the secret; people can see themselves in us.” The father of four added the locals of Martigne-sur-Mayenne are aware of what the couple are doing and know they are famous in other countries.
Does Stephanie still own the chateau?
How old is Stephanie Jarvis on Escape to the Chateau DIY? is just one spin-off of the ever-popular main series, but this time and aren’t running the show. While Strawbridge narrates the show, Stephanie Jarvis has become the face of the series for many fans. has all the information on the DIY presenter.
- Since premiering in 2018, Stephanie Jarvis has been a regular of the program, slowly becoming the main face of the series over the course of its six-season run.
- She shares much of the same experience of Strawbridge and Adoree, having left London 15 years ago to renovate a French chateau.
- Now 45-years-old, the presenter originally purchased a 20-bedroom sixteenth-century chateau in Crozon-sur-Vauvre in France.
- In fact, she still runs the property today, as it now operates as a B&B for anyone looking for a luxury French getaway.
- READ MORE:
Escape to the Chateau DIY: Stephanie Jarvis is 45 (Image: Channel 4/Instagram)
Escape to the Chateau DIY: Season 6 is airing now on Channel 4 (Image: Channel 4)
Escape to the Chateau DIY: Stephanie Jarvis is also a vlogger on YouTube (Image: Channel 4)
- Jarvis originally bought her chateau with her ex-partner, with the presenter admitting it was something she always wanted to do.
- The star added: “There’s no doubt in my mind that this is what I was meant to do with my life.
- “I love nothing more than bringing this magnificent building back to life, welcoming people to our home, and letting them discover the magic of this place.”
- The star’s blogs can be seen on her YouTube channel, which shares the same name as the website.
DON’T MISS. Escape to the Chateau DIY: Dick Strawbridge and Angel Adoree (Image: Channel 4)
- On the channel, Jarvis shows off various chateaus along with answering questions from fans about her life.
- The presenter also shares updates with her fans on Instagram, offering even more insight into the life of a chateau owner.
- These posts have helped hold fans over until season six dropped on September 27.
- While specific release dates haven’t been confirmed, Channel 4 commissioned new episodes of Escape to the Chateau and its spin-offs throughout 2021 and 2022.
: How old is Stephanie Jarvis on Escape to the Chateau DIY?
What do the couple in Escape to the Chateau do for a living?
Escape to The Chateau ‘s Dick Strawbridge is an inventor, engineer and ex-army lieutenant who is now well known for restoring his 19th cen tury French castle, Chateau-de-la-Motte Husson, with his wife, Angel Strawbridge. Want to know more about Dick Strawbridge? Here’s everything you could possibly ever want to know including where he was born, previous jobs, the Escape to the Chateau series and how many children he has.
Dick was born Richard Francis in Burma on 3rd September 1959 to Jennifer and George Strawbridge — the third of seven children. Shortly after he was born, Dick and his family relocated to County Atrim in Northern Ireland, where he was raised and educated. He attended Welbeck College, later enrolling at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).
In 1978 Dick joined the army, working his way up from Troop Commander to Lieutenant Colonel. Over 20 years, he travelled the world with the army, before being awarded an MBE for his military work in 1993. After retiring from the army in 2001, Dick went on to work as a television presenter full-time.
How much did the pethericks pay for their chateau?
Becoming chateau owners – One of the couples featured on the first series of Escape to the Chateau DIY became firm favourites with the viewing public. They were young and inexperienced but had huge commitment to bring back to life a neglected and enormous chateau. Their willingness to do whatever it took, working night and day, impressed everyone.
- Billy Petherick from Greenwich in London was just 27 and his fiancé Gwendoline from Cherbourg, Normandy was 24 when they bought the Chateau de la Baismagnée.
- In the heart of the rural department of Mayenne in Pays de La Loire, it cost them €1,050,000 in 2016.
- Billy had some building experience, Gwendoline had worked in retail but nothing daunted them.
“When we decided to get a house in France, we knew we wanted to take on a project. Perhaps a grand house, manoir, maison de maître, or small château, but when we were looking online, we stumbled across a listing for a grand château” says Gwendoline. “We thought that even if it was bigger than what we were looking for, it was so beautiful that it was definitely worth a look, at least we could dream for an afternoon.
But when we saw it, we fell in love with the place straight away. It made us re-think all our plans, because after seeing the Chateau de la Basmaignée we couldn’t really imagine ourselves being anywhere else. After months of figuring out a way to pursue this crazy adventure, we got the keys to our beautiful chateau”.
Funding came from a legacy from Gwendoline’s late mother and bank loans.
What did Angel Adoree do before Escape to the Chateau?
Angel Strawbridge’s early career Angel Adoree began her career in a slightly different way to her husband. She set up her own hospitality business, The Vintage Patisserie, and took the idea to BBC’s Dragon’s Den.
Why are chateau owners selling?
Escape from the château: why French millennials are selling up their family seats As stated by Le Figaro, a record number of 1,500 French châteaux are currently up for sale, a figure that, according to specialists, is only expected to rise. As a result of ‘increased environmental rules and other bureaucratic initiatives’, the pressures and costs of maintaining stately homes in the country have rapidly increased during recent years.
Inheritors of such properties are more commonly giving up the ever pressing responsibility of conserving their family estates and downsizing to manageable residences. Olivier de Lorgeril, chairman of La Demeure historique, credits the upsurge in sales to the houses’ expensive maintenance as well as to a shift in generational mindset.
The chairman concludes, ‘the younger generations are urban. They often want to have international careers and to live in towns and cities’. He also outlined that as a result of the increased abandonment of historic sites, the heritage of French property is consequently under threat.
A monument that is not lived in is a monument that is not looked after,’ Lorgeril states, ‘we keep repeating that our national monuments are in danger’. Château de Courson, an impressive 11th-century property boasting a 45-acre park, is 20 minutes south of Paris and has been in the de Nervaux-Loys family since 1775.
According to the, the castle was formerly owned by aristocrat Guillaume Joseph Dupleix de Bacquencourt, who bought the estate using his wealthy wife’s dowry and who was later beheaded during the Great Terror of the French Revolution. The château has a rich and vibrant history.
According to historians, the soldier who D’Artagnan – one of the main protagonists in The Three Musketeers, the 19th-century novel by Alexandre Dumas – was based on, is believed to have been born and raised in the château, learning ‘to ride, to wield a sword and to handle firearms’ in the impressive gardens of the estate.
Getty Images Husband and wife Olivier and Patrica de Nervaux-Loys, who currently own the property, are now selling their family château for a guide price of €12.5 million following ‘many hours of discussion’. Although they and their children are much attached to the property, Patricia is quite convinced that handing over the responsibility of its maintenance to future generations would be more of a burden than a gift.
‘Our children are very attached to the estate, but they all work and they look after their children and that does not leave much time to run the château as well, because that is something which consumes just about all your life.’ The couple are confident that Château de Courson will attract a large amount of interest given its impressive history, short distance from the capital and aesthetic grandeur.
: Escape from the château: why French millennials are selling up their family seats
What happened to Jonathan and Michael from Escape to the Chateau?
Home to Michael & Jonathan, Chateau de Jalesnes featured in the first week of Season 1 with numerous memorable moments; how could we ever forget Michael reaction to the smell from the drains or the problems with the goats? This beautiful Chateau was used as a hospital and a school through the years and was in very poor condition when Michael & Jonathan came and returned it to it’s former glory.
Do Phil and Angelina own their chateau?
Chateau du Bailleul, Pays de la Loire Estate agents Philip and Angelina Bailie-Smith currently lease a 13-bedroom chateau for less than the price of the three-bed flat the couple are renting out in London Bridge.
How much did the pethericks pay for their chateau?
Becoming chateau owners – One of the couples featured on the first series of Escape to the Chateau DIY became firm favourites with the viewing public. They were young and inexperienced but had huge commitment to bring back to life a neglected and enormous chateau. Their willingness to do whatever it took, working night and day, impressed everyone.
Billy Petherick from Greenwich in London was just 27 and his fiancé Gwendoline from Cherbourg, Normandy was 24 when they bought the Chateau de la Baismagnée. In the heart of the rural department of Mayenne in Pays de La Loire, it cost them €1,050,000 in 2016. Billy had some building experience, Gwendoline had worked in retail but nothing daunted them.
“When we decided to get a house in France, we knew we wanted to take on a project. Perhaps a grand house, manoir, maison de maître, or small château, but when we were looking online, we stumbled across a listing for a grand château” says Gwendoline. “We thought that even if it was bigger than what we were looking for, it was so beautiful that it was definitely worth a look, at least we could dream for an afternoon.
But when we saw it, we fell in love with the place straight away. It made us re-think all our plans, because after seeing the Chateau de la Basmaignée we couldn’t really imagine ourselves being anywhere else. After months of figuring out a way to pursue this crazy adventure, we got the keys to our beautiful chateau”.
Funding came from a legacy from Gwendoline’s late mother and bank loans.
How much did chateau de Bourneau cost?
Doctor Erin Choa and her French fiancé Jean-Baptiste Gois, a mechanical engineer, decided to take the plunge after they spotted the whimsical property on the market for €680,000 (around £585,000 ): roughly the same price of a one-bedroom London flat.
How much was paid for the chateau?
How much did they pay for Château de la Motte-Husson? –
- The Strawbridge’s paid £280,000 when they bought the ruined property 2015.
- The immense chateau has 45 bedrooms, 78 windows, 12 acres and one moat.
- But when they bought it, the castle had no electricity, heating or running water – but they have transformed it over six years.
- It is now reportedly worth approximately £2 million.
- The 45-room, five-storey home, Chateau-de-la-Motte Husson, has since been transformed into a stunning home and now into a flourishing business.
How much did Stephanie Jarvis pay for her chateau?
Swapping London for a castle in France – Struggling with the pre-credit crunch house prices of London in 2005, she teamed up with her best friend (and ex-boyfriend) Nic, who also owned a two-bedroom flat in Stoke Newington. It was as they started their house hunt that Stephanie realised that with their combined budget, and the exchange rate in their favour, they could realise a dream of hers held since childhood – to become the princess of her very own fairytale château in France,
After a year of château-hunting, Stephanie and Nic found themselves lord and lady of the Château de Lalande, an hour from Limoges in south-central France. For the grand sum of £575,000, the pair’s two small London flats had bought them ownership of an historic 40-room, 16 th -century castle in the heart of the French countryside.
As Stephanie points out, “nowadays that’s the price of one London flat but at the time it took two.” They moved straight in, accompanied by Stephanie’s then-boyfriend. Her French mother and Londoner father, who had converted a historic building into a care home for Alzheimer’s patients when Stephanie was a child, moved in too.
They bought a stately home in Suffolk and would do up one room and get a resident, do the next and get another resident. “We had a flat in the attic but there was always a minimum of 30 people around so I was used to living surrounded with a lot of people and wanted to recreate that,” says Stephanie.
Previous experience: the stately home Stephanie’s parents converted into an Alzheimer’s care home