Help, We Need To Restore This Village!
Donation protected
Bonjour everyone
We are Paul & Yip, you may well be watching us currently on Channel 4’s ‘Help We Bought A Village’ (Series 1, 2 & 3)
If so then you may already have some idea of the task ahead that we are facing.
We feel it is important for you to know at this point that contrary to popular belief nobody gets paid to appear in this programme.
Firstly we would like to thank you all for your words of support and encouragement, they mean the world to us and help to keep morale high.
Back in 2019 we were given the huge opportunity of owning our own home here in France for just £10.000, a huge opportunity because back in the UK we had never entertained the idea that this would one day be possible, we had always rented our home and had expected nothing different.
Our new french home was the last cottage on the end of a terrace comprising of 5 other cottages.
Prior to 2019 the row of cottages had been left abandoned for approx 25-30 years.
After our initial purchase we became aware of the vulnerability of the rest of the row in terms of them being in danger of collapse if left unattended for any more years due to the roofs having collapsed in places and letting in the weather.
In 2021 a further opportunity came our way in the form of being offered to purchase the rest of the row of cottages for the sum of £12.000.
We worked our butts off and sold bits and bobs to get this money together as we were and are passionate in saving these historic buildings, one of the cottages has a huge carved stone fireplace with what is believed to be Norman carvings within it, making it in excess of 950 years old.
So.. after much hard graft we now own the whole row of cottages plus outbuildings, courtyard, bread oven and a well, all of which need a serious amount of work.
We came to France with a small amount of savings which has now dwindled and we are asking for your financial assistance to help us save this hamlet.
Thankfully we are able to turn our hands to most jobs and so the majority of any funds donated will be spent on materials.
THE PRIZE DRAW
At the end of this year we will be putting the names of all of those who have donated in that year into a hat, The person whose name is drawn will win 4 nights accommodation here at the hamlet staying in our beautiful converted Horsebox.
Check out our accommodation:
Our dream is to restore this beautiful part of France to its former glory and share it with others so they may enjoy its splendour too.
If you would like to follow our progress on social media then please do..
Instagram: https://instagram.com/yipnpaulshelpweboughtavillage?igshid=MW9tZHo3NXpiMHd4dQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Thank you for taking the time to engage with us.
Our most heartfelt thanks
Yip & Paul
xXx
Organizer and beneficiary
Paul Mappley
Organizer
David Ward
Beneficiary