We sold our family home in Kent to buy a French château

Swapping Kent for a Grand Designs castle

Anthony and Heidi Muir owned a semi-detached house in Kent, England, but after their children flew the nest, they decided to take a leap of faith and move to France.

They swapped their four-bed home for a historic chateau, saving themselves £230,000 ($295k) in the process.

Read on to discover the story behind the 19th-century property and how it went from a roofless ruin to a beautiful bed and breakfast...

Meet the Muir family

Anthony and Heidi's home was the ideal place to raise their children, Bronwyn, Ewan and Toby, but after 30 years they craved change. “We loved our house. It held a lot of special memories, but hundreds of new properties had been built in Maidstone and the roads were so congested,” Heidi explains.

“We wanted to change our lifestyle and felt it was time to move. We’d always dreamt of moving to France, so started looking for a holiday home.” The couple originally planned to keep their UK house but, keen to increase their budget, they decided to sell.

The couple's English semi

After doing some research, the couple decided that Lac De Vassiviere was where they wanted to live. An agent showed them images of Chez Jallot and eventually persuaded them to take a look.

“We dismissed it at first because we were looking for something smaller,” Heidi says. “But we agreed to take a look. We instantly fell in love! Because the property was already a bed and breakfast, we stayed there for two nights to experience the house and put an offer in straight away."

Chez Jallot

Their Kent home sold for £600,000 ($771k) and they snapped up Chez Jallot for just £370,000 ($476k), saving themselves a cool £230,000 ($295k). "Luckily for us, the house was already renovated. Doug and Deni Ibbs purchased it in 2003 as a derelict shell and spent years restoring it to its former glory," Heidi explains.

This image, taken in 1994, shows the rundown state it was in before the restoration. Doug and Deni bought the place on a whim after seeing an advert, paying just £36,000 ($46k).

From cherished to abandoned

The chateau was constructed in around 1870 for Monsieur Jallot, after whom the property was named. Jallot had worked with architect Georges-Eugène Haussmann, who was hired by Emperor Napoleon III to redesign Paris between 1853 and 1870, so this property was a retirement home of sorts.

It was later inherited by one of Jallot's daughters, but in the summer of 1944, the property was left abandoned...

Chateau de Resistance

With an amazing history, Chez Jallot became the HQ of the local French Resistance movement during the Second World War. In fact, it was nicknamed "Chateau de Resistance". At one time, 70 people resided there, but it wasn't to last.

In 1944, the German army discovered the secret base and burnt it down. A local wrote: "That night the manor was on full alert. We all went to bed fully clothed, expecting the worst. Around 4 or 5am on 17th July, we were awoken to see German troops swarming over the walls below the house."

An empty shell

Soon after the fire, this photograph was taken, showing the extent of the damage. The house sat derelict and abandoned for 70 years. During the late 1970s, work was undertaken to restore it, but when Doug and Deni bought it in 2003, it was very much still a ruin.

The couple's restoration efforts featured on the popular UK TV show, Grand Designs. "We remember Chez Jallot from the show,” Heidi says. “Doug and Deni were a huge inspiration. Never in a million years did we ever dream we would be living here.”

Tackling the restoration

During the 14-month project, Doug and Deni lived in a caravan in the garden. Their original budget had been around £100,000 ($129k), but they ended up spending approximately €500,000, or £416,000 ($535k).

Sceptical host, Kevin McCloud, proclaimed they’d gotten “carried away with the romance of it all”, but a few months later he said: “Every time I’ve visited I’ve been more and more blown away by Doug and Deni. They’ve proved that through sheer dogged optimism, it’s possible to tackle almost anything.”

Successful business

The couple ran the stately home as a successful bed and breakfast, which opened in November 2004. However, in 2015 they decided to say goodbye. They sold the place to Peter Ledgett, who Anthony and Heidi bought the property from in 2021.

"We rewatched Grand Designs recently, which was a real pinch ourselves moment," Heidi says. "We noticed the décor hadn't changed much, so we decided to decorate a few of the rooms. We wanted to put our own stamp on the house."

A change of hands

The dreamy castle has five rentable ensuite bedrooms. “We also have two gites that each have two bedrooms, a living area, kitchen and bathroom,” Heidi says.

There’s also a large loft space where Anthony and Heidi have their private accommodation.

A warm welcome

Inside, Chez Jallot is cosy and inviting, blending modern décor with plenty of traditional elements and original features.

When you step through the front door, you're greeted by gorgeous stained-glass detailing and vintage items, which the Muirs purchased from local markets and antique stores.

Inviting interiors

The living space is the perfect blend of rustic and cosy, with a feature fireplace, striking light fixtures and a lovely niche to display trinkets.

Here, guests can enjoy idyllic views across the surrounding landscape.

The Hummingbird Suite

The Hummingbird Suite is one of the finest spaces in the chateau, thanks to its in-room copper bathtub, designed and made by luxury bathroom brand, William Holland.

Highly romantic, the room is still very much in keeping with the history of the building, thanks to its wall sconces, hardwood floor and antique furnishings.

The Bonnetblanc Room

The Bonnetblanc Room was recently updated and features an imposing wooden bed, matching vintage furnishings and subtly patterned wallpaper that adds a contemporary touch.

Plus, from this room, you can really take in the splendour of Vidaillat. "We are really enjoying the peace and quiet," Heidi says. "This area in France is less populated, the roads have less traffic and the surrounding area is very scenic."

The Forest Room

Another newly renovated suite, the Forest Room is bright and modern, thanks to its statement wallpaper.

Described by the Muirs as a "peaceful double bedroom", this suite is situated on the first floor at the rear of the house, making it the ultimate private sanctuary.

The Vassiviere Suite

The Vassiviere Suite has been designed for families and sleeps four, thanks to its double bed and two large singles.

We love its muted colour palette, rich wood floors and high ceilings.

The Jallot Suite

Newly decorated for 2024 is the beautiful Jallot Suite.

Featuring a sleigh bed, the spacious room offers the perfect relaxing base for a couple's getaway in the French countryside.

The Gites

The once abandoned chateau also boasts two gites, or cottages in English. They each have exposed beams, rustic stone walls and everything a family could need for a cosy stay, including a kitchen, dining area and lounge.

So, what’s on the cards next for the Muirs? Well, after refreshing some of the interior spaces, they're looking to modernise the bathrooms and give the façade a makeover. “We will be painting the windows and shutters, and plan to eventually decorate the whole house,” Heidi says.

Secret tunnel

Amazingly, the house also boasts a secret tunnel that connects the interior with the lavoir – an area created for washing clothes. “The lavoir is fed by local streams and apparently Monsieur Jallot built the tunnel so that locals wouldn’t see his staff carrying his dirty laundry,” Heidi tells us.

This area of the garden had been neglected, so Anthony and Heidi spent time clearing it and planting wildflowers there. “We also plan to create lovely woodland paths for people to walk and ride their bikes."

Words of wisdom

As for advice, the couple has some wise words for anyone considering relocating to France, or purchasing an abandoned castle. "View as many houses as possible," Heidi says.

"Set yourself lots of questions to ask the agents, like does the house need a new septic tank and are the electrics up to standard? Look inside the loft and check the roof, and ensure you research the area." The couple found local Facebook groups to be highly useful, especially when seeking advice about certain areas.

Embracing the culture

Anthony and Heidi also say having a local agent by your side is key. “Agents helped us with the legal purchase, Visa process, translations and admin. Without this help, we would have really struggled,” Heidi stresses. The couple also believes that to make an overseas move work, you need to immerse yourself in the culture.

“A condition of our residency and visa is that we attend 200 hours of French lessons. We’ve immersed ourselves into French life, socialise with our neighbours and support local businesses. Embrace the culture! France is a beautiful place and we are thoroughly enjoying our new life.”

Village celebrations

When we caught up with the couple in November 2024, they said they had completed most of the updates, with just one bathroom to refurb and the entrance hall and landings. "The grounds have been finished but gardening is always ongoing!" Heidi added.

The couple has seamlessly embraced French life, and in July 2024, they hosted a grand celebration marking the 80th anniversary of their house surviving a fire during the Second World War, inviting all of the village and the original owners, Doug and Deni Ibbs.

Sporting highlights

With some of the country’s quietest roads, Chez Jallot's an ideal destination for cycling, motorbike touring, and classic car enthusiasts and the couple is looking forward to 2025.

"We’re especially excited for next year, as the Tour de France will be passing close to us once again. This time, it will be the women’s tour, with Stage 5 ending in our nearby town of Gueret. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see world-class cycling in action right here in La Creuse."