Hopwood Hall Estate: A Year After Hopwood DePree and Volunteers Lost the "Keys to the Castle"

Hopwood Radio
19 hours ago
3 min read

Today (8th November 2025) has been exactly one year since Mr. DePree and Volunteers lost the "Keys to the Castle" when Rochdale Council assumed full control of Hopwood Hall Estate, citing health and safety violations and Mr. DePree's failure to present a feasible business plan.

Hopwood Hall Estate 25/08/2025 | 📷 Hopwood Radio

Hopwood Hall Estate was a site of grandeur, celebrations, and a secure venue for community gatherings, all hosted by the Hopwood Family until the two heirs, Edward and Robert Hopwood, were killed in action during World War I, which ended the Hopwood family's direct male line of succession to the estate.

Their deaths, along with the loss of many staff members, caused their grieving parents to leave the hall and relocate to London, eventually selling the property in 1922 The Hopwood Family resided at Hopwood Hall in Middleton, Greater Manchester, for more than 500 years.

The property was put up for sale but failed to find buyers, remaining unsold until World War II, The estate was later used by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation and then became a training college for Catholic teachers before falling into disrepair.

That's when a descendant of the Hopwood Family, recalling childhood stories, read about Hopwood Hall Estate and decided to travel from the United States to the UK. Mr. DePree, a modest film producer and actor from Holland, Michigan.

After securing an agreement with Rochdale Council, he received approval to begin involving volunteers from the local community in the restoration of the hall and its former gardens. It took Mr. DePree and the volunteers four years to nearly complete the gardens and make some of the rooms inside Hopwood Hall usable again.

At this point, Mr. DePree began organising community events and offering tours, much like the Hopwood Family did over 500 years ago. However, in 2024, the situation worsened when Rochdale Council barred Mr. DePree and the volunteers, citing health and safety violations.

Mr. DePree initiated legal action against Rochdale Council and has been embroiled in a legal dispute ever since. He made several FOI requests, alleging that Rochdale Council failed to inform him about the breaches, and to this day, he remains unaware of what they are.

Hopwood Radio contacted sources and learned that the breaches mentioned involved volunteers performing construction work inside Hopwood Hall without the necessary permissions or expertise, It was also noted that Mr. DePree was informed of this.

Once again, Rochdale Council has neglected Hopwood Hall Estate, just as it did before Mr. DePree came to the UK. The question remains: how is the legal dispute progressing, and what does the future hold for Hopwood Hall Estate, given its status as a Grade-II* listed building?

There have been very few updates from Mr. DePree. The last time he posted an update, it was to inform everyone that the case would be going to court, but there haven't been any confirmed updates on whether this has occurred yet.

The future of Hopwood Hall Estate appears uncertain, and it's unclear how much more it can deteriorate before collapsing. It's uncertain when Mr. DePree or the volunteers will be permitted to return to the site to resume restoring the gardens, especially after all their previous hard work and countless hours.

Examining the photos we've received, it's evident that it won't be long before the trees begin to regrow across the gardens, resembling the state they were in prior to Mr. DePree's arrival. All people can do is stay hopeful and cling to the small amount of momentum they have left, awaiting better news and the possibility that Mr. DePree and the volunteers can regain control of Hopwood Hall Estate and preserve this part of Middleton's history for future generations.