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Purchased in 2021 by the artist couple Nadège and Etienne Frouin, this
English cottage built by Elizabeth Douglas in 1884 is now an unusual
place for artistic creations and exhibitions. In 1948, the Duchaine
couple bought Villa Cigala (its original name), renamed it Villa Avé
Maria, and built a honey house there. It is in this 250 m² building that
Nadège and Etienne have set up their two workshops as well as their
showroom gallery. The gallery is open during open house events or by
appointment.
In March 1884, Elizabeth Christian Douglas purchased
a plot of land from the Grand Hotels Company near the Hermitage,
destroyed during the Second World War and replaced by the Costebelle
high school and its bus station.
The Grand Hôtel de Costebelle is
currently the last witness of this era, it has been transformed into a
boarding school for the Lycée Costebelle.
Based on the
information found, it seems Elizabeth may have initially considered
architect Donaldson. However, since he passed away in 1885, it is more
likely that Pierre Chapoulart, the architect of the Anglican Church of
Saint Paul in Hyères, was involved (see photo).
Chapoulart, who
designed the plans, ensured they conformed to those of English
Protestant churches.
Both Villa Cigala and the Saint Paul Church
share the same architectural style: polygonal rubble in white limestone
with painted relief joints. The cut stone sections and decorative
elements are made of yellow limestone, which is easier to sculpt.
Elizabeth was born on August 17, 1830 and died on December 6, 1914.
One of six children, she was the daughter of Lord William Robert Keith
Douglas and Elizabeth Irvine, of Grangemuir.
She lived a large
part of her life in Hyères Costebelle as indicated by her tombstone in
the family vault at Dunino church on the Grangemuir estate.
Upon
her death on 6th December 1914, Elizabeth bequeathed her estate
(including the Cigala villa) to her nieces, Elizabeth Ethel Douglas
Irvine and Helen Florence Irvine.
In 1923, Mrs. Adèle Marie
Durand Corbett bought the Villa. In 1928 it passed to Mrs. Carmen
Perdomo, and in 1940 Mr. and Mrs. Ruben de Couder acquired it.
In
1948 Mr. Duchaine bought the Villa Cigala, which then became Villa Avé
Maria, and they built a honey house there. After the death of her
parents, Madame Migliore Duchaine and her husband Monsieur Migliore took
over the business.
In May 2021 an artist couple, Nadège and
Etienne Frouin, bought the Villa and transformed the old honey house
into a workshop showroom Gallery. I am grateful to the current
owners for drawing my attention to the current situation.
See also:
• The France
portal
•
Douglas of
Grangemuir
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