Our house is on the left; the barn we bought is in the centre, semi-detached to a neighbour's house!
The barn as it was, with an old platform for hay storage on the left. This was too low for Nigel to walk under and even I had to duck; our car took up the rest of the width.
Another view of the hay platform....
and again from a different viewpoint.
More visible with a few items cleared out. The concrete tank in the corner on the left is where previous owners used to mature their homemade wine (About 2500 litres!!!!). You can just make out the brass drain-off tap.
Just another view of the platform and oak mangers where 3 cows used to feed!
Men at work removing the somewhat woodworm-eaten and dangerous platform...
As above...
and finally gone all but the mangers, which we wanted to restore and keep...
The three mangers which will be moved back against the wall as a feature.
Goodbye to the wine tank - we will not be making litres of wine!!
The original doors, in very poor condition and not cat proof!
One door renovated...
Working in very high temperatures (over 35°C/ 98°F)...
Second door nearly there...
Looking so much better. The small door is one that was removed from our bedroom in 2006 and we are happy to see it in use again.
Filling in the last piece of floor not previously concreted
The concrete mixer at work....
All done!
Mangers reinstalled on the back wall.
The new doors painted to match the house and the roof tiling overhauled.
We are moving in :-)
You are? Presumably to redo some home improvements in your own home ... or are the cow stalls going to provide accommodation?! Well it's obviously a really useful addition - regardless of what we think you're doing to it ... so I'm glad it's been bought after all 'those years' ... Fascinating to see inside a French village. Wonderful photos - thank you ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHa ha not moving in literally, only the car etc etc. Our home is restored to as far as it will ever be in our lifetime. I just loved the old wooden troughs and wanted to keep them as a memory, Nigel did not take too much convincing :-) Take care Hilary and enjoy the week. Diane
DeleteHi Diane - a really useful place ... not at all far from home. Delighted that you've kept the troughs, but can see the reason for 'losing' the wine vat ... 2,500 litres would keep this blogging fraternity going for a while!! So pleased that it's a job accomplished before winter ... I guess a tent or awning over the car might help - with a temporary shake out ... but so pleased you're letting wildlife in as needed - cheers Hilary
DeleteLetting the wildlife in under the eaves is good, but stopping the 'wild barn' cats from going in through the door is necessary, they make such a mess! Unlike house cats they just seem to mess averywhere and leave dead bodies around to smell terrible!!! Take care Diane
DeleteHorrid - so totally understand your logic! Cheers - enjoy the last of the summer sunshine ...Hilary
Delete33C yesterday so it was amazing, suddenchange again today though!! Cheers Diane
DeleteYou have done a great job and I am sure this will be a wonderful utilitarian addition for you. Obviously I am weeping, teeth gnashing and breast beating at the removal of the wine making vat, but that’s progress, I guess! Now if only you can let some Barn Swallows in to make their nests there........
ReplyDeleteDavid we love our wine, but 2500 litres!!!!!!!! The swallows can get in under the eaves, but the door is high to try and keep the bats from going over the door. They can also learn to go in through the eaves. They make a real mess on the floor below the door and over the car if we forget to cover it!!! I see swallows around here every year but not sure where they nest. There are many open barns in our area which is probably far more suitable. Thanks for the comment, have a good week Diane
DeleteNice to see your new acquisition, all now pristine and ready for you to put things in...will be interesting to see how you fill it up
ReplyDeleteVera filling it up is no problem. Firewood, stored boxes of all sorts, the car, the trailer, sit-on mower, push mower etc etc. We have a good supply of wood from the floor that came down so we probably, with what we had already, have at least 3 years supply of wood. Have a good week Diane
DeleteThat's marvelous! One can never have too much storage for cars and outdoor tools. I like your renovations - and agree that the 2500 litre wine vat was too large for one couple to use.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marjie, the space is a very welcome addition i can assure you. Not sure that we could even manage to make that much wine let alone drink it 😉 Hope life is looking up for you, take care Diane
DeleteI love the look of your new interface. The name and your cover images are fab.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind comment. Cheers Diane
DeleteWhat a great job you all did. The new doors look terrific and it's great you were able to recycle an old door of yours. What a huge wine vat!
ReplyDeleteIt was sad the wine vat had to go but it was a waste of space and it would never have been used by us!! Keep well Diane
DeleteWay to go, Diane! Now you will have a great space to fill. Love that shade of green and that the oak managers were preserved. That was a lot of wine the previous owner made! Thanks for sharing, take care.
ReplyDeleteWe have an amazing amount of things to go in there, not least the wood for the fire during winter. It will be great to have dry wood. Hope all is well. Diane
DeleteMy! You have been very busy and hard at work. The barn is looking much, much better.
ReplyDeleteStill masses of sorting to do inside but it does look better from the outside :-) Keep well. Diane
DeleteThat was handy to be able to buy a barn across the road. Looks like a lot of work to clear to out but it looks like it will be a great storage place and garage.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to be great once we get it all sorted inside, lots of work to do still. Hope all is well. T'other Diane
Deletethis is wonderful Diane and what great job you did. really amazing ! hugs
ReplyDeleteThanks Gloria, it is going to be great once we have the inside sorted. Hope all is well. Diane
DeleteI know how nice it is to have a barn, it will certainly be put to good use. A job well done...oh and your neighbor must be happy to see how nice it looks now.
ReplyDeleteNot sure that the neighbour could care a hoot, they spend more time away then they do at the house. So sad as the people who were there before were fabulous. The family from before are now in the next door hamlet in a newly built house. Take care. Cheers Diane
DeleteHow wonderful Diane, that old barn is really something. Must feel wonderful to see all the work done, very rewarding. Enjoy your week :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise, we are delighted to have eventually bought it after renting it for several years. Very useful 😃 Keep well Diane
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