Unable to afford UK home, couple buy French hamlet for £26,000

 Yip Ward and Paul Mappley went from living in a caravan in England to owning an abandoned French hamlet. The couple bought the property for £26,000, which includes seven cottages, two barns and other buildings. By carrying out much of the restoration themselves, they estimate they have saved more than £100,000 while bringing the historic hamlet back to life. Yip Ward and Paul Mappley went from living in a caravan in England to owning an abandoned French hamlet. The couple bought the property for £26,000, which includes seven cottages, two barns and other buildings. By carrying out much of the restoration themselves, they estimate they have saved more than £100,000 while bringing the historic hamlet back to life.