This traditional French farm steading is situated in an unspoilt area of South West France on the border between the departements of Dordogne and Charente close to Bordeaux and the major tourist areas of Central Dordogne, the Cognac area and the vineyards of St Émilion etc. The farm is situated on the River Dronne that forms the departement border. The whole property is on the edge of a hamlet in its own grounds of around three acres of pasture and gardens. Barbenègre (Blackbeard) is a tiny hamlet in the commune of Chenaud (410) and in the ‘departement’ of the Dordogne (24). The commune has a total population of around 330. The mayor and her ‘Mairie’ can be found in Chenaud on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The locals call this area ‘Happy Valley’. The hamlet reclines in the flood plain of the river Dronne and is in the biggest forest in France stretching from the Atlantic to the Massif Central known in this area as the Dronne Double. Barbenègre can also be said to be in Perigord Vert and in the ancient region of Aquitaine.

Anne Bonnar, Ley Thompson & Hilary Keenlyside, together have owned Les Chardons for ten years now. The house has risen as a phoenix from virtual dereliction over this time and has become a relaxing and friendly holiday home for our families. We try to spend as much time as possible at Les Chardons and there is always something to do about the house, barn and garden. Anne’s main love is the garden and she is constantly tending and improving things. Obviously we have to wait to see some of the results!

We don’t know a whole lot about the history of the house except that it is one of the oldest buildings in the hamlet. The window in the upstairs rear bedroom has been dated as 16th Century and you can see on the front face of the house ghosts of previous doors, windows and other openings in the stonework. The house was built in three sections. The first (to the left at front) probably 15th century), the centre (about 150 years ago) and the final part during the second world war (it is built with local stone and mud!). Most of the construction wood in the house is Oak (Chène) or Pitch Pine (Pin). The roof has been restored and waterproofed retaining its original crooked character. Everything that could be saved from the house, has been reused. The small sink in the entrance hall was used for washing hands after entering the house after working in the fields. Fortunately both of the original Cheminées (chimney-pieces) were intact and restorable. The kitchen in the large house was previously a barn and the smaller kitchen, the pig sty! The upstairs of the entire house was used as a barn. This vast open space was used in the past to dry the tobacco and hemp (what a combination! Maybe this explains the laid back atmosphere of the village and the nick name of ‘Happy Valley!) grown on the farm in the past. It is always a delicate task to balance history with the needs of people today.

The Mousset family lived in the house for a number of generations and many members of the family who still live in Barbenègre (also Alsace and Paris) were born in the house. They still have a great affection for the house and often wander around thoughtfully or engage you in conversation (How’s your French?). They are very happy to see the house ‘living’ again and have many stories about their life in the past; hiding from the Germans during the war by breathing through grasses underwater in the river* and how they loved to play in the river as kids. They tell us of the life of Barbenègre with its six or seven shops, carpenters and smiths, sadly now all gone.

Generally speaking our valley is very quiet and does not attract many tourists.