A Hollywood filmmaker is fighting to regain access to his family's crumbling ancestral estate, dubbed 'Downton Shabby' by locals, after being locked out by the local council. Hopwood DePree, 56, says he was left stunned when he was barred from the 600-year-old mansion in Middleton, Greater Manchester, despite years of restoration work.
Legal Battle Looms
A two-day trial has been scheduled for September 29 and 30, during which judges will decide the future of the Grade II-listed Hopwood Hall and whether Mr. DePree met the terms of his agreement with Rochdale Borough Council. Speaking about the upcoming hearing, he said: 'I'm looking forward to this coming out in public. I feel I have to stand up and fight for what's right.'
Discovery of the Ancestral Home
Mr. DePree first discovered the long-lost family home in 2013 while researching his ancestry, having grown up hearing stories about a mysterious 'Hopwood Castle.' He traveled to the UK that year to see it for himself and found the once-grand mansion in a derelict state, with broken windows, collapsing ceilings, and water running down the walls.
After working with Rochdale Borough Council, he struck a deal in 2017 that gave him the chance to take ownership of the site for just £1, provided he could secure planning permission and bring it back into use. Mr. DePree relocated to the UK, established the Hopwood Foundation, and began restoring the hall with the help of volunteers and heritage experts. Planning permission to transform the site into an events and hospitality venue was granted in 2022.
Investment and Dispute
Mr. DePree says he invested around £750,000 of his own money into the restoration project, later documenting the journey in a book. However, relations with the council broke down, with the authority claiming he had failed to meet the terms of the agreement, including producing a commercially viable business plan. In November 2024, the council chose not to renew the deal, and the building was shut, leaving Mr. DePree and his team locked out.
He said: 'They attempted to pull the plug on the project and locked us out. That was a complete shock to the community. I couldn't believe a public body would behave in this way.' Mr. DePree insists he met the conditions of the agreement and disputes the council's claims, including suggestions that he failed to present a business plan. He stated: '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.'
Council's Position
The council says it has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds into the building and must protect public money, adding that it has a responsibility to explore alternative options. The dispute is now set to be decided in court, with both sides preparing to argue their case. Mr. DePree said he has submitted around 1,500 pages of evidence and believes the hearing will bring the full picture into the open.
Personal Significance
Currently based in Michigan but born and raised in Los Angeles, Mr. DePree said the project has taken its toll but remains deeply personal. He said the restoration would be a tribute not just to the community but to his late grandfather. He added: '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.' Rochdale Council was approached for comment.
