Watermill Renovation in France – Charente
Here is a series of pictures (click on any watermill picture to enlarge it) of the watermill renovation in Charente, France, its amazing that when we offered the project for filming to programmes such as ‘A Place in the Sun’ it was turned down as they felt they wanted to concentrate on UK projects.
Its possibly one of the most complete renovations of a historic building in that region of France and the project has caught the imagination and approval of a great many people in Charente. The watermill is well on the way to being habitable and should see us get the first use out of it this year in Autumn 2011.
So the pictures are in two steps, firstly a very brief timeline of the renovation and then secondly a series of snapshots from the most recent progress.
The watermill will of course be featured far more comprehensively with a complete and structured timeline, there are approximately 1000 pictures of the renovation project in our archive at the moment and many more to take as the next few months pass.
Starting with an older picture of the waterfall this is one of three streams that run round the watermill grounds.
Here we have an early picture of the watermill as you arrive.
The rear elevation in 2006 before we started the watermill renovation.
View from the roof terrace in summer, the lake will go to the top right of the picture.
Upstairs in 2005 now it is completely different, the watermill has 3 floors.
The roof of the mill before it was removed, cleaned and renovated, now the master bedroom ceiling.
This is the kitchen and its outlook to where we now have the breakfast terrace.
The kitchen from the front of the watermill.
Kitchen from Roof Terrace
More Kitchen 2007
Side elevation showing the kitchen and the bread oven where the breakfast terrace will be.
This is the rebuilt kitchen before boarding – note the bifold doors to the breakfast terrace.
Outside standing on the top of the bread oven which is now fully restored as well.
Bi Folding Doors - Watermill Side Elevation
Rear of the watermill- the bread oven, breakfast terrace and all the new windows, plus the roof terrace.
Front elevation showing the new windows.
Newly restored roof and floor for the mill master bedrooms (x2).
Breakfast terrace with the doors open, ballustrading and flooring to be added to the terrace.
Roof and wall insulation to keep the mill warm.
Top floor bedroom with large windows.
Steel going in for the studwork.
Roof terrace before ballustrade.
Roof terrace looking to the back of the kitchen.
Watermill from the back.
More mill from the back.
The mill kitchen from the front, completely rebuilt.
Plasterboard now on the kitchen walls, the vaulted ceiling makes for a huge room.
Looking down from the roof terrace door.
There are tons more pictures to process yet and when time permits this blog will show the complete step by step renovation for each aspect of the watermill including the grounds.
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