A COUPLE who bought a 20-room French château for the price of a small London flat have told how their “fairytale” home is more like an “arctic nightmare”.
The picturesque château has eight bedrooms, almost three acres of land and is even fit with its very own chapel.
They bought it for just over £900,000, the price of a small flat in Chiswick, West London.
Looks can be deceiving though – as Lionel, 64, and Claire Cherruault, 42, can vouch – as inside this three-storey palace are dilapidated, freezing cold rooms which cost a fortune to heat up.
“Winter is an absolute nightmare here and I’m constantly thinking I’ve had enough, let’s sell,” said Lionel, whose home is set to appear on Channel 4’s Escape to the Chateau.
The former Royal photographer said he was warned about buying such a big place but “has always been a little mad” so fancied the challenge.
But after just over three years the couple are at their wits end with the cold and the exorbitant costs associated with living in such an enormous home.
Last winter the pair spent £6,000 worth of fuel in just three months and vow never to make the same mistake again.
“I’m always wearing a hat and beanie- even in bed!” said Claire.
Despite the bone-chilling temperatures the couple have managed to stay positive – and even find comfort – inside their draughty lair.
“Occasionally, the dog comes and sits on my feet in the office which is always a nice treat!” said Lionel.
Claire, a photographer from Plymouth, added: “In the evenings we light the fire and cosy up on the sofa with a duvet and our two dogs and cats who make very good hot water bottles.”
They recently bought six oil radiators to try and keep fuel costs down but ended up spending almost £500 a month on electricity instead.
In preparation for Christmas, they’re testing out different forms of heating so friends and family don’t need to endure the icy temperatures.
A gas heater, which the couple liken to their “third dog” as it follows them wherever they go, is currently a firm favourite.
This only scratches the surface of the couple’s ordeal however, as costs to renovate their three-storey home near an eye-watering £100,000.
Lionel said: “When you take on a big place like this you don’t know until you do it.
“When I saw the property my jaw dropped and I just thought I want to give it a go.”
To avoid the steep costs they’ve started renovating the property themselves, which they document on their Youtube channel.
The process, though gruelling, has revealed a number of hidden gems in their historic home.
In one of the three outbuildings, the couple discovered hundreds of old books dating back to the mid 19th century.
Among the pile of literature, they also found some old photographs including one they believe to be of a young boy informing the previous occupants of the start of WW1.
And whilst the loft is overrun with “dead flies” and “pigeon poo”, Claire is still thankful to live in such an “extraordinary place”.
She said: “Sometimes it feels so surreal. Especially when we come home after going to the supermarket and we drive up our drive and see the château.”
Summer is a particularly happy time for the couple, as they can sit outside and host friends for dinner – and spend “long evenings chatting and drinking.”
Claire added: “We are really looking forward to Christmas, I will decorate the house with lots of greenery from the garden.
“And light a large fire in the dining room to keep everyone cosy for lunch.”
