Nestled in woodland and tucked away behind the college which bears its name, Hopwood Hall could be one of Greater Manchester’s finest gems.
At first appearance the Grade II-listed building, dating back to the 1420s, stands proud as one of the region’s grandest homes. But inside, Hopwood Hall needs an awful lot of work.
That work has been going on for more than five years since American actor, writer and filmmaker Hopwood DePree swapped Hollywood for Middleton to restore his ancestral home. The state of the crumbling property led Hopwood himself to describe it as ‘Downton Shabby’.
“It’s been a massive project here at Hopwood Hall,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “We’ve spent a number of years just on the roof alone.”
Look inside the building and it’s clear to see just how big an effort restoring Hopwood Hall continues to be. Floorboards have been ripped up, walls have been stripped back, and the intricate details which would have made Hopwood Hall a jewel in the crown have decayed.