This large house was built in 1923 by Baptiste Bourrel,
one of two sons of a hat manufacturer called Jean Bourrel, one of the largest
in the area employing about 800 people. He had the house constructed on the land
between the workshop and the main street of Esperaza and was able to create an
exceptionally large park style garden between house and factory. There is a smaller
house to the side which is believed to have been built around the 1900's and is
of a completely different style.
Something interesting to note in the
picture above is the mistake that was made when tiling the date on to the wall.
The builder somehow got two of the tiles the wrong way round when doing the initials
of the owner!! Well...for sure it takes a sharp eye to spot it from the ground
and I for one will forgive him if that's his worst mistake!!
© copyright 2002 La Maison Du Chapelier, Andrew Richardson. All rights reserved.