Built in the 1840’s for Hennessy Cognac, the buildings are in excellent structural order and are being sold with the benefit of outline planning permission to convert some 1900m² into habitable accommodation, with the further possibility of increasing this area by more than 50% by developing into the roof (approx. 7 metres to the roof space). Further planning permission is being sought, which if successful, could provide a further 250m² - 300m² living accommodation giving a total of just over 1,000m².

Detailed planning has been obtained to build two houses with a combined floor area of approx. 500m². Plans are available upon request.

In addition some 500m² of the outbuildings in the courtyard have been renovated in the last 12 months to provide:  

• Four en suite bedrooms
• Four large reception rooms including games room/bar
• Luxury kitchen facilities  
• As well as the modernisation of the former two bedroom Maison de Maître.

The vendors’ architect has recently drawn up plans to develop the buildings into 15 cottages/apartments with four additional communal reception rooms – totalling some 500m² – plus an indoor swimming pool. Equally, they have advised that the property could be readily developed into an hotel with over 50 luxury en suite bedrooms plus conference facilities.

Located in the heart of the Charente the property is 5kms and 8kms from the picturesque towns of Jarnac and Cognac respectively, both can be accessed from the property along the old tow paths without crossing a main road.

A championship golf course is just 2kms away and the river, with its excellent fishing, is navigable 30kms upstream and 70kms downstream to the coast.

Four international airports are between 1 and 1½ hours drive away - La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Limoges, Poitiers - whilst a fifth is due to open on 1 April 2008 in Angoulême, the region’s capital just 30 minutes drive away.

Buildings

South Wing

Newly modernised, the former Master’s House with its elegant shuttered windows provides 72m² of living accommodation over two floors comprising:

Ground Floor

• Living room with open fire, separated by an archway to the newly fitted kitchen/dining room door to inner hallway and storage area, turned stairway with walnut balustrade leading to:

First Floor

• Two double bedrooms, one with walk-in wardrobe newly fitted shower room.

At ground floor level doors lead to the east and west single storey extensions.

• The East Extension is 52m² containing two modernised double bedrooms both with new en suite shower rooms.
• The West Extension is 52m² and readily convertible into a 1 bed cottage/ apartment. It currently contains two rooms separate W.C., shower room and covered area housing the oil tank and electric meters for single and three phase power.

North Wing

Overlooking the river with a gross floor area of approx. 320m² to each side of the covered entrance arch with its imposing 3m+ automatic entrance gates, this wing has been extensively renovated housing three large, double aspect reception rooms with provision for an additional room and indoor swimming pool.

• Reception 1 - 81m² fully restored and currently used as an office with exposed beams, high level of insulation to the walls, floor and ceiling, remote controlled lighting, night storage heating, telephone, internet and satellite tv connections, wheelchair access, pair of double doors to:
• Reception 2 - 80m² extensively restored, currently used as a storage room with large tiered shelving, electric heating, power control box, pair of double doors to:
• Reception 3 - 150m² currently unmodernised
• Reception 4 - 170m² modernised with fully insulated walls and ceiling.   Superb exposed beams, remote controlled lighting, large bar and Victorian snooker table, double aspect windows, pair of double doors leading to:

Proposed swimming pool area 150m².

East Wing

Gross floor area 1015m² of which 360m² has been converted into a luxury apartment key features of which are:

• Triple aspect open plan living area

  High quality fitted kitchen with granite worktops and integrated appliances including standard and extra wide double ovens/grills/rotiseries induction 5 plate hob, 3m x 1.2m granite island.

  Master bedroom suite 50m² with telephone and satellite tv, includes luxury bathroom (douche Italienne, bath, W.C., bidet, separate cabinets with sinks) and separate dressing room.

  En suite guest bedroom of 40m² with walk-in wardrobe, telephone and satellite tv points, private bathroom (douche Italienne, sink and W.C.).

• Separate utility room
• Separate storage room
• Archways leading to small office and rear reception hall with cloakroom
• Under floor heating
• Parquet flooring
• Remote controlled lighting
• Private walled garden with raised dining terrace and separate parking area for 5/6 vehicles
• Note all doors can be locked off

The remainder of the wing is mainly un-modernised although one wall has been constructed immediately adjacent to the apartment in preparation for either a pair of en suite bedrooms or a further apartment. In addition all windows and shutters have been stripped and primed.

Outside

The gardens are divided into five different areas:

• Courtyard Gardens - Approx. 1,500m². In addition to a number of existing mature shrubs and trees including yew and hazelnut, fruit trees, shrubs, plants and bulbs have been planted in the last year mainly in the raised beds and surrounding area. The raised beds are constructed with old railway sleepers through which are 4 archways constructed for access to the dining, BBQ and seating areas set on two newly paved patios. The central gravelled walk/drive is lined with almost 100 lavender and leads up to a small parterres consisting mainly of roses and buxus. A newly constructed BBQ area is covered in tiles from the old pig sty/dog house adjacent to the outside dining area. High quality fire resistant masonery paint has recently been applied to all of the exterior walls of the courtyard.
• East Garden - Surrounded by magnificent stone walls reaching up to 4 metres, it is currently used as a private garden for the new apartment. It is principally laid to lawn with a newly constructed raised terrace, a stone built lean-to for log storage and gravelled parking for up to 5/6 cars.
• West Garden - Measuring some 60m x 16.5m this grassed area is ideal for new car parking for some 50 to 60 vehicles and is accessible from both the north and south perimiters of the site
• South Garden:

  It has separate access from the road running along the south boundary and has been granted detailed planning permission for some 500m² of floor space in the form of two houses with swimming pools. This could readily be adapted for the construction of apartments.

  Currently a lock-up garage exists just inside the large entrance gates and a mature walnut tree is located in the NE corner of the garden.

  Full plans are available upon request. 

Miscellaneous Information

• Mains drainage is scheduled to be installed in the road immediately south of the premises in the next few months
• Almost the entire roof covering was replaced by Hennessy in the 1990's
• The region is a popular tourist area principally due to its excellent micro-climate
• The premises were constructed with a high level of security in mind
• A Michelin Star Restaurant, located some 200 metres away in the village is just one of a number of high quality restaurants to be found in the area
• The village, located on the south part of the river, also benefits from a bar, post office and épicerie.   On the north bank is the Grand Marnier Château
• The property benefits from a back-up water supply via a well with a newly installed electric pump
• Outside lighting and electrical sockets have been recently installed

Further photos are available upon request.

N.B. All Measurements are approximate.