The story of the "Four Leaves"

The beautiful story of our "Four Leaves"

Family purchase of this manor house in 2023

We have always been passionate about old houses. Beyond their architecture, it's their history that particularly appeals to us. This purchase will be followed by 18 months of renovations to restore its former glory, while incorporating modern comforts. We have set about retracing the life of our little bourgeois house dating back to 1880, because in 150 years, so much has happened!

Renovation and conservation of architectural heritage

When we bought it, it had unfortunately been unoccupied for 15 years. It was deteriorating steadily, and we were eager to breathe new life into it while preserving as many original features as possible! And we've done just that (preserving the terracotta tiles, fireplaces, kitchen floor tiles, staircase, and magnificent parquet flooring).

Local history of this family home in Montournais

First of all, it was Mr. Jules Rousseau, in 1880, a retired architect, who had this house built. We even found a brick engraved with his name during the renovation. Jules was the son of Mr. Félix Rousseau, mayor of Montournais from 1855 to 1859, and the grandson of Mr. Jean-Pierre Rousseau, a tailor whose parents had emigrated to Niort during the Vendée wars;

Jules Rousseau, a bachelor, shared the house with his servant, Mademoiselle Félicie Allais. After his death, the house was purchased around 1905 by a veterinarian, Mr. Félix Péault. He was born in Montournais in 1879 and married Mademoiselle Emilienne Belaud in 1908. Around 1930, at the age of 51, Félix Péault retired and became a landlord. Widowed shortly thereafter, Mrs. Péault lived alone in the house for many years until her death.

Why the "Four leaves"?

We named it "Le Quatre Feuilles" for the green setting around the house, the designs on the cement tiles in the kitchen, hoping that its name will bring us luck in this project!

Tiphaine and Cécile Roger