Chenevaux - Cadestral Plan and Description

Chenevaux - Cadestral Plan and Description

 Plot references

153 – copse 00ha 10a 90ca

154 – the golf and croquet, divided up by various trees and shrubs, coming round to the pool (4) and then the gite garden. 2ha 36a 96ca

155 – the main house back garden 00ha 16a 30ca

156 – the “courtyard” and the buildings 00ha 38a 73ca

296 – grass and trees  00ha 05a 74ca

 

The hand written numbers

1 – main house 160m2.

2 – bouanderie/utility/boot room 33.5m2

3 – the gite 90m2

4 - swimming pool 40m2

5  - the studio  90m2

6 – pond/drainage ditch

7 – hangar 320m2

8 – potting shed, barbeque terrace, covered terrace/party room approx. 90 m2

9 – old bread oven, series of 5 old animal sheds now used for storage approx. 60 m2

 Chenevaux used to be one of the major farms in this area.  It is shown on maps dating back hundreds of years and the name Chenevaux is derived from the word chanvre - hemp, which was grown on part of the land and was an important crop for the area.  The previous owners farmed much of the land in the immediate vicinity but now all of this has been sold off and we own the last 3 hectares incorporating the  buildings, gardens, and our grounds.

Chenevaux Farmhouse February 2021

The Farmhouse is constructed of stone, as are most of the older buildings in this area.  We believe that it may have been more than one dwelling in the past and over the centuries it has been changed and updated several times.  We hope that we have brought it back to life whilst keeping its character.  The attic space is a project waiting to happen. It is a fantastic space with a lovely oak frame, but at the moment the house is all on the ground floor.  The access to the loft is via a door in the hall ( see floor plan ).

Oak staircase to loft.  The recess in the wall is where water was stored before mains water was installed.

Dog-leg oak staircase to loft.

First part of loft, dining room chimney.  Solid wall incorporating lounge chimney ( not seen ) with door to ...

Second part of loft.  Lounge chimney is in the dividing wall, to the RHS.  Light comes through glass tiles on roof.  Insulation throughout.

The crossbeams are approx 3m high

Going back - the head of the staircase is in the RH corner

The Bouanderie February 2021

The Bouanderie/Boot Room/Utility Room - This used to be the pig shed and the story goes that it housed a prize boar and all of the sows were led to Chenevaux from neighbouring farms to be sired here!  We created a doorway through from the kitchen so this is now a very useful part of the house.

Chenevaux Gite January 2021

The Gite, which has been used for people to live in and animals and grain storage in the past, was a complete wreck when we arrived.  Now it is a lovely, homely cottage which we renovated with holiday guests in mind and which we have lived in on several occasions.

The Studio/Workshop February 2021

The Studio, which used to be a stables and grain store and then a garage.  The downstairs is now a functional ceramics and pottery studio with a workshop housing the kiln which is connected to 3 phase power.  Upstairs is a lovely light space currently used as a painting studio. 

The hangar

The open barn.  Cow sheds and a house were all but demolished to make way for this "hangar" when the farm changed from animal to cereal farming.  The bays exactly fit a combine harvester, as we found when it started to rain during harvest one year and we were asked if a parking space could be used.  We use it as shady parking, a wood store, and as a storage space for the tractor mower and other equipment.

The Cafe and storage sheds February 2021

The "Cafe du Coin" and the rest of the building adjoining.  The Cafe is actually the old bakery, with a huge brick bread oven.  Apparently in the early 1900's this was the main bakery for the local farms. 

The bread oven

Series of 6 "sheds", previously used for small livestock  The first one was used as the hen house, or for various other birds such as pheasant.  Little nesting boxes are all along the wall where the bread oven would have warmed the bricks.  We now use these sheds as storage areas for garden furniture, bikes etc.

Shed 1

Shed 2

Shed 3

Shed 4

Shed 5

BBQ palace and potting shed February 2021

The Potting Shed and BBQ palace February 2021

The greenhouse/potting shed and the barbeque palace  - When we arrived this was more of a ruin than the gite and we vowed that we wouldn't spend any time or money on it!  Now we have made one end into my potting shed by putting on a sloping translucent roof. The centre part is now a terrace for barbeques then there is a roofed area for shady dining and parties!

Inside the Potting Shed 

The polycarbonate roof lets light in

The swimming pool

Swimming pool - 10 x 4m in-ground pool, which has a safety fence and gate to conform with French regulations.  The pool has roman steps at the shallow end, is 2m deep at its deepest point and has plenty of space around it for sun loungers and parasols.  We use brome rather than chlorine as it is kinder to the skin and less harmful to the environment.

Since we have been here we have planted lots of fruit trees, shrubs,  perennials and roses ( I trained as a garden designer in England ) creating enclosed, private, gardens for the house and the gite and more open, park style grounds beyond. You can see lots of photos on the page called The Seasons at Chenevaux - Photos.

Enquiries to Caroline and Mark Judson - chenevaux@orange.fr