Couple restore a French hamlet bought for £26,000

Yip Ward and Paul Mappley bought an abandoned hamlet in Normandy after living in a caravan in England. They have restored buildings themselves, converted one cottage into a holiday rental and hope to finish a second cottage by summer 2027.

• Ward and Mappley bought the hamlet and neighbouring buildings for a reported total of £26,000; the account says they were living in a caravan in Tunbridge Wells at the time.· 1 source
• The estate includes seven cottages and two barns. The couple have converted the original cottage into a holiday rental and are working towards completing a second cottage by summer 2027.· 1 source
• They estimate their do-it-yourself renovation work has saved more than £100,000. They plan to live at the hamlet and use some buildings for workshops and community activities rather than rent out every cottage.· 1 source