This couple bought a £248k abandoned château to escape the housing crisis

This couple now live mortgage free in a 300-year-old manor house

Ash and Terry always loved holidaying in France but swapping their two-bed home in Middlesborough, England, for a French château hadn’t always been the plan. That is until they realised how much more square footage they could afford across the English Channel.

After years of searching for the perfect fixer-upper, the couple bought a 300-year-old chateau in Basse-Normandie and set about transforming it into the ultimate multi-generational family home. From the leaky roof to the rotting windows and crumbling floors, they had their work cut out for them.

Read on to discover their journey so far and take a tour of their truly remarkable historic home…

A chance encounter

So, how did the couple come to own this incredible château? Well, back in 2016 they walked past an estate agent in France and spotted a huge five-bedroom house for sale for €75,000. That equates to around just £62,000 ($80k).

“We had that amount in equity in our house, so we could have bought it and lived mortgage free,” Ash says. “It had three acres (1.2ha) of land, too. We could never afford anything that big in the UK and we were working 12-hour days and owned two businesses. It really got us thinking about what we were doing.”

A 10-year plan

The couple established a 10-year plan to relocate but, fuelled by excitement, Terry began looking for houses in France almost immediately. “They got bigger and bigger until we were looking at châteaus,” Terry says. “They were within our budget but we held off.”

When Covid-19 hit and the pair couldn’t see family or spend quality time together, they decided to push their plan forward. “We’d had enough of life in the UK and loved being in France. We knew moving there would allow us to live a much more relaxed and family-orientated lifestyle.”

Château De Lalacelle

In December 2019, Ash and Terry saw Château De Lalacelle for sale online. “We contacted the estate agent and as soon as France lifted its Covid-related restrictions, we were on the first ferry out,” Ash says. “I went to try and talk Terry out of buying the property because it was out of our price range.”

The château was listed for €500,000 (£414k/$532k) but the real estate photos were at least five years old. The property had a lot of damage and the garden was overgrown. "That's when I started to get excited," Ash says. "I saw its potential immediately and because of its condition, I thought we could get a discount. So, while Terry was looking around, I put in a cheeky low offer.” Much to his surprise, Ash's €300,000 (£248k/$320k) offer was quickly accepted.

Bang for their buck

The couple sold their businesses and their home and relocated to France. With 25 rooms, five floors, seven outbuildings and 25 acres (10ha) of land, Château De Lalacelle certainly provided Ash and Terry with a lot more bang for their buck, when compared to their two-bed house in the north of England.

“The property was in a horrific condition when we bought it,” Ash says. “No one had lived there since the 1960s. It was open to the elements, with missing windows and doors, failed guttering, a damaged roof and no sewage system." This image shows the entrance hall when the couple first got the keys in late 2020.

Broken but beautiful

Despite its crumbling walls, broken windows and mould patches, Ash and Terry were amazed by the beautiful features in each room. "As we were walking around, we could see how each room would look and how it will be used in the future," Terry told his Instagram followers in May 2021.

From the stunning encrusted sandstone floor tiles in the entrance hall to the elegant wood panelling and 12 fine marble fireplaces, the abandoned mansion was bursting with wow factor and this is essentially what sold the place to the couple.

Fascinating history

While some parts of the estate date back to the 1300s, the main structure of the château was built in 1724 and the imposing central turret was added in 1806. With a fascinating history, the property belonged to an important local family during the late 1700s and early 1800s.

“The owner was a stout royalist and he went on to become the leader of The Old Guard, serving under Napoleon Bonaparte,” Ash says. “Napoleon came to the area to visit him but when he discovered he was still an active royalist, he sentenced him to death."

In its heyday

The château's owner was eventually released from prison and his sentence was annulled, but when Napoleon regained the throne in 1815, he resentenced him to death. This time, he fled France for Jersey.

This historic image shows the château during its heyday. Even in this small black and white photograph, you can see how beautiful the building once was, with its refined architecture, grand proportions and stunning gates.

Getting started

After becoming the new owners of the château, the couple immediately got started on the restoration. “We knew how hard the work would be, but structurally the building was pretty good,” Terry says. “There was some woodworm and dry rot, so we dealt with those issues in the first year.”

During this early stage of the project, the couple fixed the broken roof, installed a septic system to carry away waste, sorted the wild, overgrown grounds and tackled the home's mould problem. For the first 18 months, the couple lived in a caravan in the garden.

Exterior efforts

Of course, the duo also had to clean the front of the building, repair any broken windows and paint all of the window frames. The original granite entrance staircases and exterior stonework also needed to be cleaned using a pressure washer. "The building was slowly being reclaimed by nature, with moss scattered across the roof and algae slowly transforming the façade over the years," Ash says.

Once the exterior had been cleaned, Terry repointed the stone. On the left of this image, the stone has been cleaned, while the tower and right-hand side of the building remain riddled with grime.

Before: a bare attic

With five floors to play with, the couple decided to turn the third level (the top floor) into their own private apartment. The second floor would be transformed into two guest suites, while the ground floor rooms would be restored and used as communal spaces.

They started with their private spaces to pick up essential skills, before moving onto areas that other people are going to see. "Doing it this way gave us the confidence we needed," Ash says.

In their new apartment, the couple removed the old built-in cupboards and wallpaper and took down all the old, rotting wood and plaster around the dormer window. They then set about adding a layer of thermal insulation, followed by another layer of insulation and plasterboard, to ensure the apartment remains warm throughout the winter.

After: a sumptious bedroom

After a lot of work and time, the couple's private suite was finished. Once a cold and tired room, the bedroom is now a stunning and comfortable place to relax.

"From sanding floors and fitting the ceiling to insulation and electrics, it was a year of work but we are so happy with the results," Ash says. "We have a beautiful place to live and we got to say goodbye to the caravan."

Before: an empty roof space

In the kitchen, the couple insulated the walls and ceiling, installed plasterboard and varnished the gorgeous exposed beams that decorate the roof space.

"As each of the other rooms on the third floor all have low ceilings, when you step into the kitchen you are instantly wowed by the double height and all the beautiful exposed woodwork," Terry says. "The space shows the true craftsmanship of the roof structure of the château." Terry also repaired sections of the floor that needed attention and installed power sockets for those essential appliances.

After: a bespoke country kitchen

In March 2023, the couple's kitchen arrived. They designed it themselves to perfectly fit the shape of the room and provide them with plenty of storage and worktop space. "It only weighed 600kg," Ash says. "The poor delivery drivers nearly had a kitten when we told them it was up on the third floor! Terry and I did it all with them, to make it easier."

Ash then installed the units, tiled the splashback, framed one of the windows and added the skirting boards to the entire parameter of the room.ujj

Before: bathing in potential

This image shows the bathroom in the couple's apartment. "Me being me, I wanted all the the pipes hidden away so everything in the bathroom looks beautifully placed," Ash says. "But it came at a cost. All the earth used for insulation needed to be dug out to make way for the waste pipes, which were hidden under a new floor."

After: a luxurious bathroom

Kitted out with antique furnishings and vintage-inspired sanitaryware, the couple's new bathroom is spacious, stylish and wonderfully traditional.

The cast iron, claw-foot bath tub sits next to the window, allowing the couple to soak up garden views while they bathe.

Before: the first guest suite

After finishing their own apartment, Ash and Terry began work on the guest suites. This image shows the 400 Suite in January 2023, at the start of the work.

"After removing the original panelling, we discovered more problems; rotten beams, windows and no electrics," Terry says. "As so many of the panels were damaged in the bedroom, we decided to remove them."

During: restoring the walls and windows

Stripped back to its bare bones, Ash and Terry could insulate the walls and install plasterboards. A rotten section of the floor around the window was also restored. "Everything we’ve done has been new to us, so we've had to learn," Ash says. "We've done 95% of the work as a family."

During: bespoke mouldings

Terry also created mouldings for the walls, using a clear resin. "With the blue bedroom being the largest room we have, we want to create something unique and memorable for when people stay," Terry says. "So, I made our very own mouldings with the help of a 3D printer. This machine has enabled us to create some amazing mouldings, that are unique to Château De Lalacelle."

After just over a year of hard work, the 400 Suite was finished in March 2024. "After months of work, from sanding to filling, prepping and oiling, the beautiful original parquet floors have been restored to their former glory," Ash says.

After: ocean liner-inspired 400 Suite salon

Named after Terry's love of Olympic-class ocean liners, the 400 Suite oozes opulence. "I took many design elements from the RMS Olympic, Titanic’s sister ship, which was given the yard number 400 by its builders," Terry says. "We managed to source a sample of the Adam Green paint colour once used in the grand staircase of the ship and with the help of Autentico Paint, we recreated the colour for the walls in the salon, giving that elegant gentleman’s lounge feel."

The couple also recreated the panel work once found in the ship's gentlemen’s smoking room. The mouldings were made from polystyrene, at a cost of just €40 (£33/$43). "We combined this with some beautiful Edwardian furniture and handmade green velvet curtains. The results truly are spectacular."

After: elegant 400 Suite bedroom

The 400 Suite's elegant bedroom features an antique chandelier and wall sconces, vintage furnishings and a handmade bed canopy that Terry crafted using a beautiful piece of velvet.

After: 400 Suite bathroom

The stunning bathroom features vintage fixtures, a roll-top tub and, with the help of content creator Vivienne from Château Love, Ash and Terry created some beautiful hand-painted tiles for the shower cubicle – featuring the words Château De Lalacelle, surrounded by delicate floral motifs.

Fixing furniture

As for the furnishings, Ash and Terry spent years scouring different brocantes (second-hand shops) throughout France, in search for the perfect pieces. “Unfortunately, when we bought the château all items and furniture had been removed, even down to the door handles. Slowly we have built a remarkable collection of stunning pieces for each style of room,” Ash says. “A lot of these items were in a dreadful state of disrepair, needing a lot of attention."

Of course, the couple weren't afraid to get stuck in and restore their new antiques. From reupholstering chairs to cleaning and oiling beautiful wooden cabinets, they have created some truly one-of-a-kind gems.

Before: second guest apartment

A lot of skills and confidence was gained during the project and are now being implemented in the 401 Suite, which lies next door. In this room, the couple insulated and plasterboarded the ceilings, removed all the old wiring and prepared the radiators.

Then, after the huge task of repairing and replacing the original panel work, they could finally get to painting the walls. Instead of opting for a simple paint, Ash and Terry instead decided to create faux mahogany wood effect walls, using a four-step process...

During: 401 Suite panelling

The job began in September 2024, with Terry's mum, Tracy, taking a hands-on role. "Many thought we had gone mad as we started by painting the walls bright yellow, but with each process from the paint, to the stain, then onto the varnish, a coat of wax and painting 2400 little gold crosses, this room has transformed into a warm, elegant room for guests to enjoy," Terry says.

After: authentic restoration

It's hard to believe this stunning wall was actually painted on. A painstaking task, Terry and Tracy have somehow reproduced the tones and textures of wood grain with paint brushes and a handy hairdryer.

Once the wood-effect panels were complete, the mother-son team began highlighting some of the details throughout the room with gold leaf. "We're amazed with the transformation of this room, and with so much more to come, this will be a room to remember," Ash says.

To finish the room, the couple will add delicate wall sconces on either side of the fireplace. The 401 Suite is 70% complete and we can't wait to see the result.

Helping hands

Ash and Terry haven't faced the château restoration alone. As well as Tracy, who decided to sell her house in the UK and relocate to France to help with the project, the couple have seen many friends and family members visit to assist them with the colossal task of restoring the property.

Terry's nephew, Jonathan, also lives at the property and helps out where and when he can, while attending the local school and playing for the town's football team.

Before: the dilapidated outbuilding

As well as working on the main building and grounds, Ash and Terry have also spent time restoring this quaint outbuilding, which sits next to the château. "When we first saw the outbuilding, we knew straight away that it would make a fantastic little cottage for Tracy and Jonathan," Terry says.

"Tracy has always wanted to have a beautiful little cottage, with nothing but land around it. Even though this building looks relatively small compared to the others around it, the rooms inside have great proportions, high ceilings and stunning views."

During: potential family cottage

No easy job, the cottage required extensive work. Tracy and Tony, Terry’s dad, worked tirelessly lifting thousands of terracotta tiles throughout the cottage. After this, they hired a digger and removed six inches of earth, allowing floor insulation to be fitted.

New windows were installed and a flue liner was inserted, ready for a log-burning stove. Tracy also sanded each of the ceiling beams in the main salon and repointed the exposed stone wall in the lobby. "Tracy is amazing," Ash says. "She isn't afraid to tackle anything and just gets stuck in."

After: cosy farmhouse feel

After six months of work, the once-abandoned home was finished. Complete with two bedrooms, a sitting room, a bathroom and a kitchen, the home is light-filled and traditional, with a cosy farmhouse feel.

"The kitchen is the heart and the centre point of the cottage," Terry says. "We spent £600 ($769) on the kitchen and with the help of wonderful friends and family, we got there."

The Versailles-inspired grounds

While Terry and Tracy were hard at work inside the château, Ash was focusing his attention on the grounds. With the help of visiting family and landscape designer, Shayne, Ash created this stunning walled garden. "I'm not good with detailing and intricate work, but Terry is," Ash says. "I’m good with a chainsaw, hammer and tractor. I’m very practical."

Inspired by the beauty of the Palace of Versailles, Ash created pathways, flower beds and lawns, and spent a tremendous amount of hours planting bulbs. 700 stones went into creating the shape of the garden and it took 10 days to manually move 100 tonnes of gravel for the pathways. Ash also sourced second-hand urns, plinths and fountains to complete the space.

More to be done

There are plenty of rooms still left to restore, too. These will be communal spaces on the ground floor, where Ash and Terry and any of their guests can spend time. There's a grand salon, a dining room, a billiard room, a small kitchen, a boot room and, of course, the stunning entrance hallway.

“We started the work in September 2021 and have spent around €300,000 (£249k/$319k) so far,” Ash says. “The septic alone was €35,000 (£29k/$37k).” With that money, the couple has renovated the cottage, finished their apartment and (almost) both guest suites, installed a new road leading to the château and fixed almost all of the exterior. "It's a lot of money but we can see where it’s been spent."

Local support

Thanks to this sensitive approach, obtaining planning consent has been a breeze. “As long as we stick to replacing like for like, the local planners are happy,” Terry says. "This was always going to be a restoration project, not a renovation. Anything we haven't been able to salvage or repair ourselves, we've replaced with exact replicas, crafted by artisans."

The local mayor has been very supportive, too, visiting the couple and keeping them on track." All the locals have been nothing but kind, helpful and supportive. They’re just happy to see a building that could have fallen down be rescued.”

Words of wisdom

Of course, we had to ask Ash and Terry to share their top tips for anyone looking to undertake a similar project. "Don’t think about it too much, just do it," Ash advises. "If we’d have thought about the amount of work involved and what it would take to get us to this point, it probably would have scared us off. You don’t have to look as big as this, either. There are lots of smaller homes around France that need rescuing."

As for what's next for the couple, they plan to finish the 401 Suite and open the two up to paying guests. “We plan to rent them out in 2026," Ash says. "We won’t be open for bookings 365 days a year, though. We want to enjoy the château.”

We don't know about you, but we can't wait to see how Ash and Terry progress. Head to their YouTube channel for video transformations and follow them on Instagram to see live updates.