Not Quite a Chateau DIY 241 - Saving Our Crumbling Historic Bread Oven House - New Project

We show you our Bread Oven House by the river, which used to be a lookout tower on the Town Wall Defences around 500 years ago. We talk you through all the work that needs doing and how we plan to tackle it.
Thank you so much to everyone who chooses to support us by buying a coffee/beer,
here is the link:
www.buymeacoffee.com/notquite...
Our gites/holiday rentals are bookable on AirBnB, here are the links:
airbnb.com/h/gite-lignieres-c...
airbnb.com/h/lignierescottages2
@Journey to the Chateau is Patrick and Stuarts' channel
#notquiteachateau #chateaudiy #frenchbrocante
We are Tony and Jane and we are living in and renovating our old Relais De Poste/Coaching Inn.
We live in the middle of France in a region called The Berry.
We have over 40 rooms to renovate so there is plenty of work to be done. We also love to trawl the local Brocantes, flea markets and antique shops for quirky furnishings and furniture.
We love to find out about local history and often visit other peoples buildings including our friends’ Chateaux.

[@lorilarkin827]

Tony did a fine job filming. It’s going to be a big and exciting project. Cheers Jane 🫶🇨🇦

[@Tea-nOpals]

I am team Tony. A bar would be enjoyed by all, you could make a sitting area outside beside the river and Jane would make it pretty!

[@toots4205]

The bar and pizza oven is a great idea! And I love the chicken hotel. Preserving the history while making the spaces useful and enjoyable ❤ It was a great video! The two of you working on the video together was very nice! Thanks for sharing Jane and Tony

[@sheilaosullivan3056]

Hi Jane and Tony, it’s nice to see you looking better Jane. Great idea for another entertaining place. 😘🇨🇮

[@janeblandford852]

I am so glad that you are going to preserve this bread oven building at some point. You both do things so well that I am really looking forward to what you do and how you do it. I know it is not a priority right now, but whatever you do now will keep it until you are ready. All very exciting!! Thank you for sharing.

[@sleevingtheoldmebehind1342]

Garden bar and kitchen with pizza oven, perfect for Dad’s hosting skills 😍. Then turn the existing garden bar into a utility/laundry room, freeing up extra space in the kitchen xx

[@rosebud-ame]

Tony speaks well done Tony & Jane! 🥰🥰

[@pamkullman8839]

I have all faith in Tony being able to repair this! It would be fun to have a pizza party in the summer with friends and family!

[@enoughalready8337]

I am Team Tony!! Sorry, Jane. That would be a PERFECT Garden Bar w/ Bread Oven for you, friends and guests. ❤❤❤

[@_Tiamat_.]

💜💙💚 Team Tony and a couple Gin and Tonics. The bread oven is fabulous. Love your ideas Jane.

[@christmasczar]

What a great oven! Excited to see what you make of that building. Good job filming Tony!

[@RitaMoore]

When the stove got up to temperature, they raked out the coals, put in what was to be baked, and then sealed it all up. The baker knew the spots to put things needing different temperatures. One could also add cover pots with things like meat and potatoes that needed slow cooking that you might cook in a slow cooker. My mother as born in 1908 in Germany and she told me it cost a few pennies to bake something. If you added the pot, you had your meal cooked when you got home. When it was harvest the whole family worked in the field. My mother also said there were town shower buildings that cost little to use.

[@sylviawright5181]

Are you listning Tony ,Jane i have to smile ,you sound like me explaining to my husband ,Love your video's ,so natural ,👍❤

[@JetteBell-cs6nb]

You two can do it, but don’t forget to enjoy every day. Hugs

[@heatherarthur6232]

I like watching Tony working.

[@dianayavetz6286]

I never understood how a bread oven worked. Thank you Tony, for explaining. That’s going to be a fantastic project and the bread oven is well worth saving!

[@sheridavis261]

What a wonderful project! I'm sure a bar/entertaining space would be incredible. Especially so close to the river!

[@Hiris-hu5pc]

Super excited for this new project! Bread ovens are so amazing!

[@NATALIE_W_]

Another interesting project, So glad you're back to regular vlogs. ❤

[@peterwhite9261]

Tony did great with the camera.i love the plans for the bread house.

[@AvaT42]

🇨🇦I am happy you want to preserve the history of the tower, many people would just tear it down. I love the bread oven, it would make a great bar like Tony said, it certainly is in a pretty spot.

[@gayejani350]

I think this project is very exciting! Great ideas. The bread oven is and will be an amazing feature. Yummy pizza parties, sipping your cocktails along the river’s edge. Chickens in a nice, safe enclosure. I love some of those exotic breeds that are available. We shall patiently wait for Tony to start doing his magic! Looks like maybe the tree will be the hardest project!😍🇨🇦

[@suecollado8696]

💕This will be interesting & those trees once dry will supply you with plenty of wood for your log burners/fires💕

[@denisemastromina7821]

Hello only just realised I had missed this episode. Your oven is in a really good state of repair. I have lived in Greece for many years, and all old properties have them you mustn't take any of the bricks out it will all collapse. Usually once you have checked it is all stable someone slides in on there belly and fills the cracks. They light them with twigs and put quite thin branches in to get them hot when they are burnt they brush the ash to the side and start filling it either bread or rolls at Easter they put whole lamb in trays up to 8 of them for all friends and neighbours then put the metal door in front and seal it with clay mud and leave it all night next day the clay is broken and the meat trays bought out steaming hot. You need to be careful on the front in case it destabilises the oven. The fact that you put the loaves or meat in when the wood has all burnt and got the oven hot means you don't have that awful smoke smell and taste on the food.i look forward to watching you bring this magnificent oven back into use.

[@lisac1110]

I am also team tony lol he works so hard and deserves his owb space to unwind 😊😊😊

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Good morning Jane & Tony, the oven structure is magnificent. It has lasted all these years without any attention. I was thinking of making an aluminium sort of smoke diversion. Catch the smoke coming out the oven and channel that into a structure directing it into the top of the ceiling/roof out the chimney. It sounds bizarre hey!! A pity that you can't break through and then build up to use the house next door where you plan the chooks to go. They will not get much sunshine there in any case, you would have to be careful so they don't land in the water at the back. In my humble opinion, I would keep the structure for my own use, and organise the new chicken coop somewhere else. Animals do mess up a place tremendously. You have lovely space that you can utilize and that overhanging branches, remove that tree completely as well, then you won't have those leaves clogging up the channel of the roof. Make life easy. You have both been working hard and made such a difference. It is all coming together lovely. You sound much better, but still take care Jane. Do enjoy a beautiful day, many blessings, Elize.

[@lawrencebaker2318]

I think saving the bread oven house is a worthy goal. I hope it goes well!

[@claudineretif2790]

Good idea with the bread oven! BTW, I hear everywhere how bad concrete render is; it doesn't "let the walls/building breath," or so they say. That's a really bad idea with a building so near a river and with these periods of intense rain / floods we've been having. Great to hear that Tony can do most of the work. These days I would say a good 70% of the cost is labor. Well, good luck with all your projects. I do think Tony's idea of a bar is the best use for the space. Look at it this way, he gets his bar here, you get your chicken coop there. I'll be watching all of it, as always, all the best from kust outside NYC, Claudine!

[@gb4375]

So glad to see your lovely property again

[@suehall3298]

Nice filming Tony 👍🤗 another interesting video Jane🤗🌹💐 Love Sue ❤❤❤🇬🇧❤❤❤

[@Alaskalad]

From what I understand, Bread ovens are now protected under French law, if so, there must be some funding to help from the Maire, especially the felling of the tree?

[@claudineretif2790]

Good advice!

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

Yes Tony………. Good idea….. A Bar in the garden 👏👏👏🙂

[@Tony-InLosAngeles]

Tony’s been put into service as cameraman now we how come a long way from the first video 🤣😂🤣 This is going to be the project of the summer!!! Considering the forest of a thicket that backyard was this is a piece of cake.

[@micheledenise2305]

I would lose alot of it knock it all down but the bread oven ur garden is so pretty that building is hiding the river and that's what I would love to see as a guest..Keep as much of the roof open it all up Keep the bread oven maybe a pavilion so u can put a table under use the bread oven to cook for guest out in the open by the river...😊😊

[@NATALIE_W_]

Another skill to Tony's arsenal, cameraman😂. Jane you are a persuasive lady. Well done guys!

[@user-es2iz6wh8l]

Such an exciting project for you guys.. looking forward to seeing who it all progresses.. I know you'll make a fabulous job of it ❤😊 xx

[@judithschrim145]

I certainly hope you have framed that map and not folded it up somewhere...good for guests to get to see it.

[@annettesharrock1236]

How exciting ,loving the idea of a chicken House,and my what a posh one that will be. Also the idea of a bar/she cave very appealing Tony and Jane. The bread oven is in very good condition as well some lovely home made bread and pizzas could be in there ,whilst you have 🍺 or a glass of wine 🍷 . Thanks for sharing Tony and Jane, loved watching ❤

[@lindadaum9408]

You two are going to be busy. 😮

[@normamurray4450]

I love this video folks! Great photography Tony and great hostessing Jane! I love your plans for the Bread Oven! We know Tony will make it work!

[@carolesmith6620]

Good luck with all the work you are doing Tony and Jane sounds like a plan 😊, Take care and see you both next time 💕🌼🤗

[@SusieMonk-jh8tj]

Such a wonderful place to have in your garden.. chicken hotel and Bar. Pizza parties . Smell of home baked bread yum yum Bon courage

[@Lea-bw9wj]

Isn't there some kind of funding you can get since the wall is so old and it's also an old bread oven? Something else you might need to do (I might have missed you saying it) if that's concrete on the walls you'll need to take it off and re render with lime. Would be so good to get to bread oven working again. Pizza parties in the garden next to the river. Sounds like heaven

[@daynight4902]

BEST WISHES TO YOU

[@smgreenartsprivate]

I had wondered if you were fixing it up quite a sizable crack on the outer wall. I think Ted and Lesa should maybe watch your progress as they have one at Chateau de Montmagner :) oddly enough they mentioned that those who used to use the oven someone would collect taxes when they used it. You can reuse it make it seating outside for your bread oven to sit outside when it's in use. Chicken chalet will be lovely sure you and Tony will make it nice for them :) I wonder if the ceiling in the oven room could be higher for easier use. It could also be a greenhouse room for plants you want to take in for the winter if not a bar :)

[@angelavan478]

I grew up w/ chickens at one point in childhood...the smell was pervasive on our property. This is far enough apart from the house, but really close to where you want to entertain and may be an issue later. Or, I just have a sensitive nose.:-)

[@HoneyTeaBiscuit]

This project seems wonderful however I remember when the river rose the bread oven shed flooded so I hope you can waterproof it if possible and the chicken house as well.

[@newday5]

Wow amazing bread oven 😊

[@nancibishof6462]

Glad to see the bread oven is going to get some TLC. I like the idea of a chicken house. You have done quite a bit of work to improve the physical condition of the building on your property. One more French treasure rescued! The bread oven will make a great pizza oven and party spot in the garden. You'll be able to pick fresh veg to put on the pizzas. Now for a nice table in chairs under the trees to sit and dine on those pizzas!

[@marilynnash1197]

It is going to be a really interesting project. Hope you are feeling better now Jane 😊

[@user-pl9ls2zp1v]

Bar & pizza oven are perfect! Bail on the chickens, they are too smelly to be near bread/pizza!

[@janescott4574]

Terry and ash at Lalacelle had a spray that killed all the moss on the roof and more or less turned it to dust, you could ask them the name of the brand.

[@jillphillips3227]

The bread oven is a jewel and will be delightful when renovated! I'm purchasing a small farmhouse in the Loire near Loches and will have to re=build my bread overn.....as it has collasped, so a but of a challenge there! It will be a delightful space and addition to your property! Cheers!

[@charmees6637]

The bread oven is pretty cool. That’s a pretty posh chicken coop. Are you sure you want chickens in that building?

[@thewilliamseswonderfulworld]

What a fantastic space. You gave great vision! 🥰

[@lindabaker2905]

Great ideas Tony and Jane!

[@bobolpatrick3789]

beau projet

[@estavoyernathalie9433]

Cest une très bonne idée de couper cet arbre qui nuit au bâtiment. Renseignez vous à la mairie : les berges sont propriétaires de la ville et doivent l’entretenir. Bon courage et merci pour ces belles vidéos. Nathalie

[@estavoyernathalie9433]

La ville est propriétaire des berges ! 😚

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

You could even re-build the Tower upwards !!!

[@jenh9252]

Tony is a better cameraman than Jane😊

[@rmil4531]

Great ideas. Do something and get the chickens.👍

[@lindagage7315]

Exciting project!

[@notquiteachateaudiy]

Thanks Linda

[@Jane-3229]

What a beautiful project 😍

[@notquiteachateaudiy]

Thank you! 😊

[@UCLALJR]

We use a powder on our roof for moss, looks like flour, and rain spreads it. The river is so high! Your lawn looks lovely. I remember watching it be cleared of all that mess, before you built your potager. You have accomplished so much! Still cold here in WA, was 37F when I woke up, but we should have heat soon. Thanks for another interesting vlog!

[@chandeliers1022]

🍎 Jane and Tony, Fabulous sunshining day in our part of the world! Hope the same for you! By no means you can have poopy chicken coop beside a brick oven or an entertainment center as you mentioned, because the chicken poop dries up and flies into the air and can fly in the area where you're baking or entertaining. You can't have both of them together, it's either one or the other. If you prefer an entertainment area, then create another wall and open one of the other walls that would go in the area where you want to have the chickens and then it would be a bigger entertainment barn so to speak. If it was me, I would take all the scrap pieces of wood your husband has and make the chicken coop away from the oven barn that you can make bigger and even have breakfast and lunch in there to admire the view of the river. That would be spectacular more than a poopy chicken barn! I love chickens, but I don't like them around where you're eating, because you will also be stepping on their poop and literally get sick from their germs as my daughter did when she was a little girl because we had a chicken coop too close to the house. Can we see more of the pretty stuff when you go to the flea markets instead of showing small things? We like big exciting things! Ciao! 🌴

[@toots4205]

Will Tony have to put those X braces on the inside and the outside of that crack?

[@lindawhite5006]

Tony better eat his "Wheaties" (Bran cereal in the USA that has American Olympians on the box and advertised as healthy and builds strong bodies) if he's to do all that ! LOL...

[@nickbutcher1913]

Bread oven = pizza oven? defo? With the Bar - what a fantastic space!!

[@notquiteachateaudiy]

Hi Nick, yes definitely pizzas one day. You should join us, love to Clare and the fur babies x

[@Caoucaren]

How about converting bread oven into a pizza oven?

[@helenfrances4332]

Wall ties are the things to hold it together. What stops the bricks in the top of roof in bread oven falling out?

[@debbierudolph9489]

Is there enough space to make another gite? 🤔

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

Haven’t you got existing strengthening bars running through the Unicorn suite ?

[@y.lelivelt2619]

Do you need a permission in France for cutting this tree?

[@jenh9252]

Wasted on chickens should be entertaining space

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

What special mortar would you recommend-point the bread oven bricks with ?

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

Bonjour

[@notquiteachateaudiy]

Bonsoir Steve, you good?

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

@@notquiteachateaudiy ….. I was but then found a massive Queen wasp or European hornet in my sitting room on the window argh

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

@@notquiteachateaudiy …… I’ve managed to get it into a jam jar……. But it ain’t happy 😳 But I’ve never seen one that big in the UK before !!!!

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

@@notquiteachateaudiy …… Not watched your upload yet…….. Hornet problem took over which was more important 😂😂

[@notquiteachateaudiy]

@@radiogramgramophonetoons5802 they're scary we get quite a lot here, huuuuge ones, be careful

[@maryjanekolesar8325]

So you don't have to worry about the river flooding the floor inside the future She Shed/Bar?

[@notquiteachateaudiy]

That's always a bit of a risk MaryJane x

[@maureenivory342]

Oh dear what happened there. Tony was having a bit of a rant !!!!!!!

[@cjpowers9330]

Would it not be nice to bake bread?

[@suzzane.notsusan.1078]

Jane you really need a clip on microphone cant hear you and you cam hear the wind its not the first time si im guessing maybe your not hearing how its heard a microphone would take care of that and noise cancellation

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

I said months ago that Tony and You should use your magic and turn it into a Gite 🫤