Escape to the Château - 'A Year At The Château' Book Review
Have you dreamt of living in a French château, even for just a little while? Well, if so, I'd say you've probably heard of Dick and Angel Strawbridge and watched their television series Escape to the Château. Maybe you've even watched their spinoff Escape to the Château - DIY show?
Did you know they've written a book, A Year At The Château, about the first year of living in their new family home, Château-de-la-Motte Husson, in Pays de la Loire? I've read the book, learnt a lot about owning a château and enjoyed hearing about their story from two different view points. That's right, both Dick and Angel share the writing and it makes for an enjoyable read.
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We will never forget the moment we first saw our forever home. Château-de-la-Motte Husson was majestic and there was no doubt that this was the one. It had the beautifully balanced towers we'd been dreaming about, the walled garden, the orangery, the moat; even the trees were symmetrical. Everything on our wish list was right there in front of us. It was magical. -
Dick Strawbridge and Angel Strawbridge
Dick and Angel Strawbridge were not new to TV when they first appeared on the Channel 4 series Escape to the Château which aired showing them first finding their forever home and then following their journey of restoration, renovation and family life in France.
Dick Strawbridge is an engineer and an environmentalist and began his TV career years ago as a team leader on Scrapheap Challenge. Angel Strawbridge is an entrepreneur who became well known in London for her hospitality business, The Vintage Patisserie. Her first television appearance was in 2010 when she sought investment for her business venture on Dragon's Den.
Channel 4 has been following and documenting their journey since 2015 when they bought the derelict château.
Visit the Escape to the Château website and shop here
Visit the Escape to the Château - DIY website here
Coloured original photos of Dick and Angel Strawbridge are interspersed through the book
A Year At The Château
The dual dialogue that switches between Dick and Angel is also interspersed with recipes Angel loves and that have served them well feeding hordes of workers, helpers and hungry children in between château restoration and renovation work. In particular I really love the sauce options for Mussels. I've got a favourite recipe of my own for Mussels in Garlic and White Wine, but Angel's 'Sauce option 2' with coconut milk, ginger, chilli and fresh coriander is also delicious (page 70). It comes recommended by my family!
Throughout A Year At The Château, the dark bold text is Angel telling the story and the normal text is Dick. They both retell the same event or situation in their own words and it's interesting to see how two people remember and feel differently about the same event or situation. It actually makes me think of how my husband Paul and I also differ sometimes in how we react or tackle a situation. This novel memoir does show however how a team of two, who have the same dream, can seemingly conquer all, and create a new and amazing life for themselves and their children.
Renovating a French Château
Keeping a huge home warm takes lots of heating and the drama of finding a suitable boiler, numerous radiators for numerous rooms, making holes in metre thick stone walls and laying hundreds of metres of water pipes - yes, literally hundreds of metres, for running water are not problems that the average home owner has to deal with.
Taking this all in their stride and adopting the attitude of 'eating an elephant one bite at a time' to their huge renovation project, Dick and Angel have worked hard, and with amazing creative talent have created their dream home. Reading the nitty gritty of renovating a château had me enthralled and learning about window glazing and kitchen benches was great hands-on advice. I loved this aspect of the book together with the artistic inspiration I felt on following Angels decorating projects. Another château owner who inspires with her gorgeous interiors is Australian, Jane Webster. Find out about her French château life here - French House Chic by Jane Webster and about the Australian Walters family who are restoring Château de Gudanes here.
Book Details
- Publisher: Seven Dials
- Book length: 286 pages
- Photos by Dick and Angel Strawbridge
- Genre: Memoir
So, whether you are looking for inspiration to tackle that big renovation project at your home, ideas on clever stylish decor or love the idea of living in France, or dream of a château life, then A Year At the Château book by Dick and Angel Strawbridge from Escape to the Château fame is definitely for you.
