63 Year Old Lives Alone In 15 Room $400,000 Mansion | Country House Rescue | Abode 

The man that left this bright, beautiful, intelligent woman was a fool!

Rest in peace Jean Wilkins (Passed away in September 2020 at age 72). I really would have loved to have met her. She shared the same love for old historical places!

Such a shame that she passed away in 2020, she seems like such a lovely woman. And this was one of the best episodes, hands down! It was so good to see someone, for once, completely embrace the new ideas right from the moment they're suggested and was open to change. I feel like it's the first time an owner never once pushed back; she merely had to adjust to the new normal, which is to be expected. But she fully supported these new endeavors and I loved her for that! Also, partnering with a local college to provide a space where the classes can be taught as a hands-on course for years to come was absolutely brilliant.

I don’t think she’s bonkers. The place is incredibly special and magical. She was such a nice person.

Jeanie was lovely. I hope she lived out her days secure in the knowledge of how much she had done to preserve the house she loved. RIP, Jeanie.

Who are caring for her lovely cats now ?? That cats/ animals also brought this house to life. The wonderful lady and her cats made this beautiful yet cold mansion a loving home !!!! RIP lovely lady !! So cool !! I could understand being attached to a particular place.

For all of the people in the comments who didnt look it up, Jeanie is dead, the house was sold to an interior designer. Hopefully one who will truly appreciate and honor the interior.

Its wonderful that Jeanie got to spend the rest of her life in a place that meant so much to her & her life, and that she wasn't alone anymore!😇 R.I.P. Dear Jeanie, this grand manor house had no better caretaker & owner than you!💕

How upsetting to find out that the lovely lady, Jeanie, has passed away. R.I.P Jeanie.

I don't blame the owner in not wanting to sell her property. We all must try to save our history.

I dare say she walks the hall at night and the garden by day.. such a lovely Lady.

RIP Jeanne Wilkins September 2020 😢 she seems like one of the kindest Nicest women ever.

I'm glad Jeanie lived long enough to see the house restored... and not only restored but thrive. I met her only briefly in 1990 while searching for my dog but she left a lasting impression on me. Rest in Peace, Jeanie and may your soul find rest in the home you loved.

She should have called Johnny Depp. He would have helped her and had it back to bed and breakfast!! Bless her Soul. I love this house and her wonderful spirit

The emotion that just flooded from her when he spoke about the house I felt over the thousands of miles away . I am saddened to hear she passed but happy that she was able to live in her dream space until she was ready to be called away . She left a legacy behind , a small footprint on the massive planet we live on amd that was an accomplishment only some can dream of .

I have read that the owner Jean passed on in 2020. She definitely was a fighter.

I think Simon was brought into Jeanies life by a higher power. He made her quest a reality. She did live out her life there as she wanted. Sad that it was a short time but a dream she lived out. Thanks for the wonderful true life story.

Jeannie is/was [ though I prefer "IS" ] an absolute doll! I feel as if her passion and enthusiasm and optimism could quite easily be infectious - perhaps even awe inspiring. What a grand memory she IS STILL creating!!! I just hope she's smiling down proudly for what she has started!!!!!!!!😊😊😊

Six cats are minimum for mental health. She was smart about that. ))) Mice are not house-trained. Fortunately cats find them exquisitely delicious.

I can't imagine living in that massive home alone. It must have been terribly lonely. So sad that she didn't have someone to share it with.

What a lovely story . Jeannie went from overwhelmed to smiling. Good for her!

That is exactly how classes should be taught. Experience experience experience. Staring at books to learn how to repair a castle is only a very small part of it. That experience will put them much farther than other people in their field.

I love seeing the cats. ☺️🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈

Hearing about her death is so sad. It was brilliant to see an owner so cooperative and exciting about saving their home

I think it’s the first time watching this show that I thought the owner was such a delightful person. It was refreshing to watch her. Sad she has passed away, but I hope she enjoyed everyday while she was there. She deserved to ❤. So many of these homes should be saved. Wonderful history, beautiful scenic views.

I knew that was Hugh Bonneville! Loved the entire story. I see in other comments Jeanie would only live 8 years beyond this filming. I was enjoying the idea of her finally seeing her beloved home completed and living happily ever after. And one more thing... PHOOEY on the partner that once was.

$400k doesn't buy a mansion anymore. You're lucky to get a starter home.

She was the queen of her own palace

Simon came up with brilliant solutions. That school was a fantastic idea. And Jeanie is an amazing woman. From the comments below I see she’s passed on and gone to Heaven. Sad, she couldn’t have been there for yet another 10 years as the house returned to full bloom..., but she got it all going, and has better than that now. RIP.

That poor kid looks terrified on the ghost tour😧😳

What a magnificent property. It’s such a shame Jeanie passed before it was completed. She had such enthusiasm and truly loved it. May she RIP.

Simon is such an amazing person to do such a brilliant job and retain the human touch.

She was absolutely DELIGHTFUL!

If I owned that property I would rent it out to the film industry and have their set design crews do the repairs and maintenance on it. They do far better work than most contractors.

I love this channel so much , but I just wish they would do a follow up with what ends up happening to these people and places.

Fantastic documentary! Its absolutely heartwarming the efforts brought in by Simon to help ensure the continuity of Chapel Cleeve! Jeanie also deserves a lot of credit for her passion to try and maintain the building for future generations! Loved it!❤

This is one of the Best episodes I have seen. I was saddened to hear the owner had passed away. She was a lovely woman. I would have loved to helped her.

What a lovely lady, it is so damn sad that she passed away, she had such a refreshing attitude and you could see that she really loved the house and wanted things to work, so nice to see some one polite and willing to try after some of these rude so called born aristocrats that have nothing except their delusions of grandeur

Shame she passed away, what a lovely lady.

I'm sure she died knowing the house would go on, being appreciated and loved. So at peace is what I would like to believe.

Would love to know how the house is doing now and what became of it. An updated story would be grand!

Turn it back into a hotel. Add in a wedding venue and host craft fairs at weekends, etc, etc. That would probably make it pay for itself!

Ms. Jeannie was such a kind hearted woman and I cannot imagine the cad who left her. Well, she was better off alone than being with him. The manor home is absolutely magnificent. I would have contacted Julian Fellowes to see what he could write for Netflix. With the huge money behind Netflix, the house could have easily been restored. Not all film crews damage properties. During the filming of “The Holiday” with Kate Winslett and Cameron Diaz, the house in America belonged to Phyllis Diller, my second mom. I was there for much of the filming. They actually built a wall so that Phyllis could live happily in most of the house, and they did amazing renovations - new wood floors (Phyllis’ home was a 1901 English Tudor in Brentwood, CA - new doors, always keeping the renovations honest to the English Tudor style of the house. I would say out of the 11,000 sf of the house, Phyllis retained 5000 sf for herself, and wasn’t bothered AT ALL by the film crews. And she became great friends with both Kate and Cameron (she was already friends with Eli Wallach, whose home it was in the movie). Once filming ended, the wall was taken down with great care, and Phyllis’ magnificent home was improved, not destroyed, and the money she received was fabulous. Like everyone else, I am sad that Ms. Jeannie passed away in 2020. May she be with our Lord in Heaven (as my Phyllis is). I can see the two of them meeting, and hear them laughing and looking down upon all of us with love……..God bless her.

In 1998, the house was bought for £360,000 by a couple who intended to restore it with friends. Part-restoration of some areas was completed in 2002. After having parted ways, the remaining owner, Jeannie Wilkins, unable to afford further restoration works and upkeep, placed the 17-bedroom house, with 7 acres (2.8 ha) of land, up for sale with a price of £1,695,000[9][10] however it is estimated[by whom?] it would take at least £500,000 to make it habitable.[citation needed] In 2012, after having been on the market unsold for over a year, the manor was used in an episode of the Channel 4 television series Country House Rescue.[2][11] Strategies were discussed and tested, with the house used as a location for ghost hunting tours and special excursions were run by the West Somerset Railway to the building [12] to help raise funds to assist the current owner to continue restoration works and to reside in the manor. In June 2015, the manor remained on the market with approximately £500,000 of renovation work needed, although some restoration has been undertaken by students from Somerset College.[13][14] As of September 2017, the Manor was still on the market for £1,475,000.[15] After owner Jean Wilkins died in September 2020, the house was purchased by the London-based interior designer Marten Street in January 2021.

Gorgeous house, Jeanie was very open minded about the house and willing to put the house first above herself and do her best out of sheer love and devotion it was a great episode pleasure to watch, Jeanie will always be remembered as a savior of Chapel Cleeve.

I fell TOTALLY in love with this tanacious woman's spirit , strength of character and self belief in her deep passion to keep this home ALIVE, bloody BRILLIANT ;D

This seems like such a positive project, well orchestrated with a well deserving country estate owner who had the right attitude.

The Most Amazing part Of the Story is When she was A young lady She Would Frequent the Home As A Young Lady in her Twenties ..Not know she Would Own it 40 yrs. Later.

RIP AMAZING LADY JEANNIE !

I would love to own a property such as this beautiful building. So sad of her passing. Loved those gorgeous cats. 🐱

What an absolutely inspiring story of courage, vision and enthusiasm, forged in creative collaboration!

I admire this lovely women with her heart and soul so attached to this home. She knows it deserve love and restoration ❤️This home has a queen♥️

I was so moved to hear that Jeannie has passed away. I pray and trust that you are now home, Jeannie, in the Father's House where Christ Our Saviour has promised to prepare a mansion for you and where you will never ever be alone or lonely again because you are home.

Bless Simon and his guidance

She was absolutely lovely. Great documentary.

What a gorgeous house. The lush woodwork is stunning. The lovely tall windows seem to entice every possible ray of sunlight from those oft-gray skies to fill the rooms with their joyous light. I’m sure Jeanie’s precious spirit is still watching over the home she so lovingly cherished. Rest in peace, Jeanie. ❤️🙏🏼🕊️

This was a nostalgic purchase with a bonkers expectation.

My gosh Jeannie was in fabulous shape at 63! I hate that she didn't think of networking before this. Especially the school idea. That is an awesome idea & one that should be continued with other old properties. What better way to continue inspiring those who renovate, remodel etc. These men & women can look at these old estates knowing they had a hand in restoring them. I hope the new owner has a room decorated in jeannies taste ♡

jenie was an absolute gem. She was such a lovely woman

I saw in the comments that she passed away, so sad to hear that, she seemed so lovely. 😞

This must be a home for a family, not a hotel or ballroom or whatever. And at 2.5 - 3 million fully refurbished, this is a bargain.

Fantastic episode, and by far, some of the most creative solutions I've yet seen on these "save this house" shows. I hope to see more episodes with this guy at the helm rather than that snotty woman with all of the marvelous necklaces and jackets (although I do like seeing her clothes and jewelry, TBH, even though I think she is often unforgivably rude). I'm sorry that Jeannie has passed away, but delighted that she got to live her life out as she had hoped, in her beautiful home, and while also helping many other people.

I'm sure she still happily roams the halls and grounds she so loved in life! ♥👻

She had such wonderful Kitty's too .

I really wish that since these episodes are soooo old that there was just a short update at the end of each video!

You're not the only one that's teared up at this show

Fascinating story all the way through! The Ghost Walk was genius and also the school to practice renovations, and also the art studio and restaurant ideas!

Spooky house idea is not ringing my bells. I was an innkeeper and we had a few spirits but our steady guests were the romantic getaway engagement proposal wedding guests. They move forward into life and the last thing they are interested in is death and dying. They never even asked about the history of the houses.

Beautiful house, she did the renovations so well! I agree with her, being in the house’s embrace is enough mostly. I believe a house is a stage setting for life to play out and a beautiful setting creates a positive mood. I could just drift throughout it and enjoy the sights.

What a wonderful lady! Such a positive way about her.❤

I earnestly hope that Castle Cleeve will continue to prosper enough to keep Jeanie in her home and bring it back to it's original repair. 🙏🏰💗

Volunteers should have stepped up to help her restore this Grande building. Rent out some rooms as apartments, whatever it takes. It's a gorgeous home, when restored it would be magnificent. 😍😍😍😍

Jeannie seemed like such a lovely lady. Her passion and dedication for this building was very special. Its like she was drawn to it and she & it couldn't let go of one another. If she isn't in Heaven it's only because she still resides at Chapel Cleeve Manor; roaming the halls ensuring it remains beautiful. 🙏🕯

So sad that Jeanie has died..what a wonderful women with such a connection to this property..not having to give up the property was an absolute blessing…thankyou for sharing..

What a lovely episode with a genuinely grounded, sincere, devoted homeowner. She and the gorgeous home are treasures.

I am always amazed at how relatively "cheap" these properties are. (compared to what they would cost in North America)

So beautiful to see the community come to her rescue. All communities should be focused like this when there is a treasure that benefits all in keeping it standing. The college was instrumental in the refurbishment...which is so perfect - interest the youngest generation to be invested in seeing its historic beauty and understand how their sweat and skill can renew it. The acting group was wonderful. Banking and community institutions need to have a portion of their efforts be focused on these issues and resolving them. I have seen mansions be turned into assisted living locations, high end restaurants, and artists communities. It is so important to keep the architectural beauty alive.

I teared up seeing her happy

Great video! Jeanie seems like a wonderful lady. She's blessed with the health, energy and enthusiasm to continue her dream with the help of some terrific people.

What a beautiful soul, RIP, I agree. I would have fell in love with this home, I would however I’d have friends and family living with me

Wonderful house and owner. I hope she can make a success with the new business and charities.

Rest in peace Jeanie. Will be missed for your lovely enthusiasm and laughter. The new owner of chapel Cleeve seems to be doing the beautiful home of yours justice once again it will grace people and love. Thank you for being its caretaker during your time. You truly saved something amazing for the rest of us to see someday.

You could see and feel the passion Jeanie had for Chapel Cleeve and given her impossible financial position had moved mountains to maintain the property best as she could. It was heartbreaking to read that Jeanie passed just eight years aft the documentary was made. Hopefully she lived out her final days in the home she loved and cared about so much.

A semi-detached house in the London suburbs can easily reach £400,000 so the price tag here makes this seem low. When big gets really big, the price per square metre decreases.

Jeanie was an excellent caretaker of this property.

That would be a beautiful place to hold a destination wedding!

Omg didn't realise this wonderful woman died 4 years ago how sad she never got to fulfil her dream of fixing that mansion she so dearly loved 😢 the house will miss her love and care she will be wandering that massive house in spirit and her beautiful soul RIP SWEET ANGEL 😇 🙏🐈🐈🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈‍⬛🌹

I personally happy for Jeanie to be able to live the rest of her life in the place of her dreams.

In 2012, after having been on the market unsold for over a year, the manor was used in an episode of the Channel 4 television series Country House Rescue.[2][11] Strategies were discussed and tested, with the house used as a location for ghost hunting tours and special excursions were run by the West Somerset Railway to the building [12] to help raise funds to assist the current owner to continue restoration works and to reside in the manor. In June 2015, the manor remained on the market with approximately £500,000 of renovation work needed, although some restoration has been undertaken by students from Somerset College.[13][14] As of September 2017, the Manor was still on the market for £1,475,000.[15] After owner Jean Wilkins died in September 2020, the house was purchased by the London-based interior designer Marten Street in January 2021.

This is my favorite Abode episode.

That beautiful roof Tudor style I had seen it others homes like this Really those people knew how to build

i found this journey of a story to be very gripping and riveting. I didn't want it to end because it made you want to cheer for Jeanie because of the great bravado of spirit that she emanates. I was taken in by the charm of the house and wished I could be there to experience the steam train passing in the mist. quite lovely! I am sorry to hear of her passing. i so wish that the legacy of the house continues. God bless you Simon.

So sad Jeanie passed! The house was her passion!

it is lovely that this lady has gotten some love and support to rebuild this home. It is a beautiful endeavour. best lof luck with it all.

What a lovely lady she seemed - I'm in awe of her clambering around on the roof (it looked like) at the age of 63. Glad she was able to stay in her lovely home for at least a few years afterwards.

Lovely house, Lovely lady. Was hope'en she would find herself a lovely man on the ghost tour and have a lovely life there. But then I read the comments and now I'm sad over someone I didn't even know. So I now just hope she was happy till the end and went peacefully. Maybe the next owners will love it and respect it as much as she seemed too. If I win the lottery tonight maybe it will be me.

Brilliant show. Just proves it pays to bring in outside advisers, the fresh approach was so smart, Simon is a clever businessman. A very interesting show, and a part of English history is preserved.

Simon pls make an updated video clip on what happened to this Chapel Clepes after Jeany died.

What a wonderful lady, with a wonderful smile and energy. Rest Jeanne. Life was beautiful for you.

As someone who is very deeply emotionally attached to their childhood home that I grew up in, I can relate to how she feels for her home. I have strong emotional attachment and hope to within the next 3-5 years plan to buy it back. Even though I don't have kids, and 4,400 square feet is definitely too much for me, it's about the memories and what it means sentimentally to you. :) My sentiment will probably cost me 1.5 million, but that's the sacrifice one will pay to be happy.