Film producer Hopwood DePree battles High Court over restoring historic Hall.

A high-profile legal conflict has engulfed the Hopwood family estate in Middleton, Greater Manchester, which has been derisively labeled the 'Downton Shabby' due to its deteriorating condition. At the center of the dispute is Hopwood DePree, 56, a film producer from Michigan who became embroiled in a High Court battle over the future of his ancestral home. DePree first encountered the dilapidated Grade II-listed Hopwood Hall in 2013 while researching his genealogy, discovering a property plagued by broken windows, collapsing ceilings, and water infiltration running down the walls.

Four years after his initial discovery, DePree reportedly reached an agreement with Rochdale Borough Council to assume ownership of the site for a nominal fee of £1, contingent upon securing planning permission and revitalizing the property. In 2022, the American filmmaker received official approval to convert the 15th-century mansion into an events and hospitality venue, a project into which he personally invested approximately £750,000. To facilitate this restoration, he relocated to the United Kingdom, established the Hopwood Foundation, and collaborated with volunteers and heritage specialists. He also published a book chronicling his efforts, titled 'Downton Shabby,' which detailed the revival of the family home that had been associated with his lineage for four centuries.

Tensions escalated as the relationship with the council deteriorated, with the authority asserting that DePree failed to fulfill specific contractual obligations, most notably the requirement to produce a commercially viable business plan. In November 2024, the council decided not to renew the arrangement, resulting in the immediate shutdown of the building and the physical ejection of DePree and his team from the historic site. While the council maintains that it has already expended hundreds of thousands of pounds on the structure and is now investigating alternative solutions, DePree contends that he has been unlawfully locked out despite meeting the terms of the original pact.

The matter is now poised for a judicial resolution, where judges will determine the fate of Hopwood Hall and assess whether Mr. DePree satisfied the conditions of his agreement with Rochdale Borough Council. Ahead of the hearing, DePree expressed his resolve to defend his position publicly, stating, "I'm looking forward to this coming out in public." He emphasized the necessity of fighting for justice, adding, "I feel I have to stand up and fight for what's right," and noted that authorities attempted to terminate the project and exclude them from the premises.

The community was reeling from the sudden announcement, a move that left many questioning how a public institution could act with such abruptness. "I couldn't believe a public body would behave in this way," expressed the sentiment of those affected. Mr DePree firmly maintains that he fulfilled all stipulations of their agreement and strongly contests the council's assertions, specifically the claim that he failed to submit a viable business plan. "They just went directly to the media and fed a story that we had not made enough progress and I hadn't presented a business plan, which is 100 per cent false," he stated unequivocally.

In response, the council argues that it has already poured hundreds of thousands of pounds into the structure and must safeguard public funds by exploring alternative pathways. Meanwhile, Mr DePree, currently residing in Michigan but originally from Los Angeles, noted that the ordeal has taken a significant toll, yet the project remains deeply personal to him. He views the restoration not merely as a community tribute but as a lasting honor for his late grandfather.

The building itself carries a weight of history dating back to 1426. Its halls witnessed the stay of Guy Fawkes and served as the location where Lord Byron completed his famous poem, *Childe Harold's Pilgrimage*. Furthermore, the property boasts ancestral ties to Mr DePree's lineage, tracing connections to his 17th-century relative, John Hopwood, spanning four centuries. "It would be an incredible day to see Hopwood Hall restored, not only for myself after everything we've gone through, but also for my grandfather who has passed away," Mr DePree remarked.

The legal dispute centers on a seven-year partnership originally granted by Rochdale Borough Council under an exclusivity agreement. This deal allowed Mr DePree to develop and eventually purchase the building for a nominal sum, provided his business plan remained viable. However, the local authority terminated the arrangement last year, criticizing the American's £13 million redevelopment as too slow and unlikely to secure future funding. His legal team counters that the agreement should stand, arguing the sole condition was securing planning permission, which was achieved in 2022.

The approved plans envisioned a revival of the magnificent banquet room, constructed in 1689, to host weddings, while the hall's 25 bedrooms would accommodate guests. Renovations were slated for the historic oak parlour, library, and upper gallery to facilitate public tours, with entry through a new gift shop and welcome centre. Beyond the interior, Mr DePree had intended to reconstruct the conservatory lost in the 1950s and build a stage in the grounds for theatrical and musical events. Additionally, workshops focused on traditional crafts such as leaded glass making, wood carving, and plaster moulding were to continue.

Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale council, voiced concerns last November, stating, "Hopwood Hall is a local historic asset which means a great deal to the people of Middleton and indeed the wider borough. Something as important as this is about much more than one person, however well-intentioned they may be." He emphasized that public assets belong to residents and cannot be transferred to private ownership without rigorous care.

Mr DePree faced specific demands upon signing our deal. "We would fail our duty to protect historic assets if we do not enforce this agreement on him," officials stated. "We recognize that many local residents dedicated their hearts and souls to Hopwood Hall's restoration as volunteers." "We are certain we will keep involving those volunteers and the wider community in future plans." The Hall and the Hopwood family separated in the early 1900s. Two male heirs, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Gregge-Hopwood and Captain Gerald Gregge-Hopwood, died in the First World War. Their grieving parents sold the property in 1922. The Lancashire Cotton Corporation bought it to manufacture uniforms during the Second World War. It later served as a Catholic teacher training college. Rochdale Council acquired the hall in the 1990s. The council has been approached for comment.