A Hollywood filmmaker has been denied ownership of a historic mansion in Greater Manchester after a High Court ruling found the conditions for its transfer were not fulfilled. Hopwood DePree, 56, had sought to acquire Hopwood Hall, a property dating back over 600 years in Middleton, through a legal battle with Rochdale council.

DePree, who claims to have discovered the hall as his ancestral home in 2013, entered into an agreement with the local council in 2017. The deal reportedly granted him the option to purchase the dilapidated estate for £1, contingent on securing planning permission to redevelop the site as a hotel and wedding venue. Over several years, he invested approximately £750,000 of his own funds toward restoration efforts.

Despite these commitments, Rochdale council decided in 2022 not to complete the ownership transfer. The council subsequently barred DePree and volunteer workers from accessing the property in 2024. The dispute culminated in a hearing at the Manchester civil justice centre, where Judge David Hodge KC ruled that the necessary conditions stipulated in the agreement had not been met.

DePree has announced plans to appeal the court’s decision. The case highlights ongoing challenges in the management and preservation of historic properties amid redevelopment efforts and complex local government arrangements.