Brits 'wrecking' French period property

A heritage group is so concerned at the prospect of Brits wrecking the character of their newly purchased overseas period properties, that it has devised a course to help them get it right.

Increasing numbers of Brits are purchasing period properties, such as farm houses, barns, gites and chateaux, in countries like France and Spain.

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) fears that in carrying out essential repairs, they are often destroying the character of the building that made it appealing in the first place.

It has therefore devised a unique one-day course exploring the issues that can arise when tackling a project on a property in France.

The course – Repairing a House in France - will cover issues including French vernacular style, what to look out for when buying, and traditional surfaces and finishes.

"The Brits are buying houses abroad cheaply and then ruining them," said Marianne Suhr, co-presenter of TV show Restoration.

"We should, of course, be repairing these beautiful old buildings responsibly but it is not just an ethical issue. If you a are looking at a property, wherever it is, as a long-term investment then it makes sense to do it properly by keeping historic features intact."

British architect Peter Ayley, who works from a studio near Toulouse, France, will outline the importance of getting the fine details right from the outset at the course.

He says the British drop their normal responsibility to buildings when they come to France.

"The major mistake people make is being seduced by the directness of simple constructions – such as a barn for example," he said.

"Clearly these buildings have no wiring, no thermal insulation – no creature comforts in fact, but making them habitable to today's standards often destroys the quality that made them attractive in the first place."

Architect John Schofield added: "Believe me, you need to know about this if you fall for a place in France and plan to rescue its French beauty. About ten per cent of British owned properties remain delightful, the other 90 per cent show the strength of the pressure of working in a very strong and different culture."

Repairing a House in France takes place on Friday April 21st at the National Trust's Studland Bay Education Centre in Dorset.

SPAB also runs a series of homeowners weekend repair courses. For more information see: www.spab.org.uk