Hopwood DePree, a US actor and descendant of the Hopwood family, has suffered a legal setback in his efforts to restore the family’s ancestral home, Hopwood Hall, in Middleton, Rochdale. DePree has invested over £1 million of his own funds into the restoration of the 600-year-old, grade II* listed building, which had lain derelict for decades under the ownership of Rochdale council.

The dispute centers on a 2017 contract between DePree and Rochdale council that purportedly gave him the option to purchase the property for £1 after securing planning permission. DePree and his sister Dori successfully obtained planning approval in 2022 to convert the hall from an abandoned structure into a hospitality and event venue. However, when DePree formally applied to exercise the purchase option in October 2024, the council denied the transaction and barred access by locking the gates.

In a ruling issued Wednesday at Manchester High Court, the judge sided with the council, determining that DePree had not fulfilled the contractual conditions necessary to complete the purchase. The court ordered DePree to pay the council’s legal costs, estimated at around £114,000. DePree has until November 18 to appeal the judgment.

DePree, 56, expressed shock and disappointment following the verdict, emphasizing his significant personal investment and long-term commitment to the project. “I trusted the council, I thought we were a partnership,” he said. “I never expected... to have them do this after all our efforts.”

The saga began in 2013 when DePree discovered Hopwood Hall, connected to his British ancestry through childhood bedtime stories and genealogical research. The hall, reportedly vacant for 30 years, had deteriorated significantly. DePree sold his Los Angeles home, navigated UK visa requirements involving a £250,000 investment and job creation, and relocated to Middleton to spearhead the restoration.

Working closely with local volunteers, Rochdale council, and heritage organizations, DePree helped open four rooms, install running water, and restore the gardens. He also authored a book, "Downton Shabby," chronicling the restoration process. Over the years, nearly £1 million was invested in architects, heritage consultants, and planning applications, supplemented by approximately 20,000 volunteer hours. Historic England and Rochdale council contributed additional funding, including nearly £1 million from Historic England and over £550,000 from the council.

The Hopwood Foundation, established in 2020 to manage grant applications, appeared poised to secure £250,000 from the National Lottery—funds that DePree noted would have been a departure from previous allocations, which primarily went to the council.

Rochdale council welcomed the court’s decision. A spokesperson stated, “We are pleased with the judgment. It’s a shame that we had to endure a costly court battle to get to this point, as the time and money ... could have been better spent on the hall itself. More than £1.6 million has been spent by ourselves and Historic England since 2017 and we will continue to invest in vital repairs.”

DePree indicated his intention to appeal and affirmed his dedication to the project despite the legal obstacle. He estimated the full restoration could cost more than £13 million, potentially rising to £40 million with inflation. “We’re not giving up,” he declared. “I was willing to shoulder the responsibility for this renovation and I won’t turn my back on the community.”

DePree also voiced broader concerns about local governance, suggesting that mistrust in UK councils hampered efforts like his. “Their whole slogan when I first got here was invest in Rochdale—well, I invested in Rochdale and it was a nightmare,” he said.