Downton Shabby and an American dream
HOPWOOD READY TO OPEN PART OF RENOVATED HALL TO PUBLIC
PART of an historic hall being renovated by a former Hollywood film producer is to open to the public for the first time in years.
The 600-year-old Hopwood Hall in Middleton is being painstakingly brought back to life by American actor and director Hopwood DePree.
He left in his home in LA five years ago to restore the Grade II-listed building, which his English ancestors are said to have founded in the 12th Century.
Now Mr DePree has written a book – Downton Shabby: One American’s Ultimate DIY Adventure Restoring His Family’s English Castle – chronicling his attempts to save the hall from ruin.
And to celebrate its publication a picnic will be held on the lawn of the hall on Saturday, which will include the opening of part of the hall.
Mr DePree told how while there’s still a long way to go to save the crumbling 60-bed mansion, work is progressing apace.
One wing that was at risk of collapse has just been stabilised, and around 25 tonnes of slate have been put on the roof to make the building watertight.
Mr DePree said: “If people looked at it, they would say, oh my gosh, you have so long to go.
“But I know where we started, and we are getting there.”
The Hopwood family are thought to have lived on the site, close to the Hopwood Hall College, since the 1100s, and the oldest parts of the current building are thought to date back to the 1420s. Famous visitors include the poet Lord Byron and Guy Fawkes.
And while the task ahead of him is daunting – many of the rooms are still without large chunks of floors or ceilings – Mr DePree says has no regrets about the challenge he’s taken on. He said: “I can’t imagine not having lived this part of my life.
“I’ve made lifelong friends of people and it’s expanded my mind. It’s been so much fun and it’s been an incredible adventure.”