Yip Ward and Paul Mappley, a couple from Tunbridge Wells, England, have purchased an entire French hamlet, including seven cottages and two barns, for approximately $31,000 (£26,000). They have reportedly saved over $120,000 (£100,000) by undertaking the renovation work themselves.
The couple, both 52, were living in a caravan in the UK and found themselves priced out of the housing market. In 2020, a friend offered them the opportunity to purchase the neglected hamlet in Normandy. After a quick visit to view the property, they bought the initial section for $15,000 (£12,000), funded by selling their possessions and an old tractor.
Over time, they acquired adjacent buildings, bringing their total ownership to seven cottages, two barns, a workshop, a cider press, two traditional bread ovens, and various other outbuildings, for an additional $17,000 (£14,000).
They began the restoration process six years ago. One cottage has already been converted into a holiday rental, and a horsebox they brought from the UK has become a popular accommodation. To help finance the ongoing renovations, the couple has utilized social media fundraising. They anticipate completing their second cottage by the summer of 2027.
"We definitely see it as the planets aligned. We went and sought out a wreck that had been abandoned 30 years ago and pieced it together," Yip Ward said. "We're really cracking on now. We say to ourselves we can't believe this whole place is ours."
Assisted by their friend Ian, a builder with 47 years of experience in restoration, they have undertaken much of the labor. Ian reportedly agreed to help after discovering the couple's journey through their YouTube channel. Initially, he worked for free for six months. The couple now pays him approximately $1,200 (£1,000) weekly from the income generated through their online content and rentals.
"I can't express to you enough that apart from cottages one and two, the other three cottages were covered, the whole roof in ivy. They were literally being swallowed by nature. We're saving so much money doing it ourselves," Paul Mappley explained.
The couple has also benefited from community support, with volunteers donating materials and furnishings. "Every week we're donated £400 worth of materials for free we can use. All of this saves us so much money," Paul noted. He cited an example where a roof repair estimated at £13,000 was completed for £2,000 due to their own labor.
Once the restoration is complete, Ward and Mappley plan to live in the hamlet full-time. They are not focused on maximizing rental income but rather on preserving the tranquility of the location. "We don't want it to be a metropolis. Every single guest who stays here says they can't believe how quiet it is," Yip said.
Their future plans include converting other buildings into workshop spaces and hosting events such as summer fairs, markets, and outdoor cinema nights, utilizing the original pizza ovens on the property. They aim to offer guests an experience that transports them to a different era, with plans to avoid modern amenities like televisions and UPVC windows in the cottages.