Reality TV couple who bought an abandoned 45-room French chateau explain how they’re renovating the vast property by themselves
Dick and Angel Strawbridge's mansion is set in 12 acres of parkland
WHEN you move into a new home you expect to have to change a few things, but Dick and and Angel Strawbridge set themselves up for a slightly bigger job.
They splashed out £280,000 on Château-de-la-Motte Husson in France, which has 45 rooms over five storeys.
Their journey has been captured on Channel 4 show Escape to the Chateau, with the pair already spending £130,000 transforming the property.
The couple, who have two kids, have kept viewers thrilled with their antics - not least because they've been doing most of the work themselves.
While that hasn't put Angel, 38, off doing up another property, Dick, 56, isn't quite so sure he'd do it all over again.
"If we were asked if we wanted to do it somewhere else, the answer would be b***** off no chance."
The property has a moat, a forest and seven outbuildings, plus the couple are planning to build three other houses on it.
Because they're choosing to do a lot of the work themselves, some might think they didn't really understand what they were getting in to.
Dick is clear that's not the case though, as they already realised it was a mammoth job.
"Some people think there’s an element of naivety in this but there’s not, we didn’t start this without knowing how much work there was going to be," he said.
The chateau is so vast they've even kitted it out with a lift, with Dick explaining it's a great help when his 80-year-old mum comes to stay as it stops her having to climb 73 steps to bed.
Although they've spruced up a lot of the rooms, the couple haven't had their home valued yet.
Instead they're focusing on making a real go of their life in France - next year they'll be hosting eight weddings at the chateau.
If you're in the mood for seeing more amazing property, have a look at this Wallace & Gromit home which has just won an award, or this four-bed property which comes with a free car.