US Filmmaker Takes UK Council to Court Over ‘Downton Shabby’ Restoration Battle
Hopwood DePree, a former Hollywood filmmaker turned heritage restorer, is now locked in a High Court legal battle with Rochdale Borough Council over ownership of Hopwood Hall, the centuries-old stately home he has spent seven years — and £750,000 of his own money — trying to save.
DePree, who moved from Los Angeles to Manchester in 2017 after discovering the crumbling ancestral estate of his British forebears, claims the council reneged on an agreement that gave him the right to buy the historic building for £1, provided he secured planning permission and a viable future use for the site.
From Hollywood to Hopwood Hall
DePree chronicled his restoration mission in his 2022 memoir Downton Shabby, blending his Hollywood past with the grit of British heritage rescue. The hall, in Middleton, Greater Manchester, has deep family ties — DePree’s grandfather told him stories about the place as a child, and he later confirmed the connection through genealogy research.
Built partly in the 15th century, Hopwood Hall had fallen into advanced decay after being abandoned in the 1920s. DePree moved to the UK, gained British citizenship, and spearheaded an ambitious plan to turn the 60-room manor into a venue for events and hospitality.
Dispute Over Agreement Terms
DePree says he met the conditions of a 2017 agreement that gave him the option to purchase the hall, particularly after securing planning permission in 2022. However, the council claims he failed to produce a viable business plan, a key requirement for the transfer of ownership.
In November 2024, the council locked him out of the property and allowed his option agreement to expire, citing a lack of confidence in the long-term financial sustainability of his vision.
“Ultimately, I had an agreement that I signed with them that I fulfilled,” DePree told the BBC. “My lawyers feel that we fulfilled that, and the council went against that… I had no other choice than to file court proceedings.”
Council Stance: Public Money at Risk
The council argues that it must safeguard the public investment made into stabilising the hall. Since 2017, Rochdale Council has spent £557,000 on repairs, and Historic England contributed nearly £1 million. An additional £700,000 is now being spent on roof works and a feasibility study.
“We would be failing in our duty to protect our historic assets if we didn’t hold Mr DePree to the terms of this agreement,” said council leader Neil Emmott in a previous statement.
The council insists DePree was given ample time — seven years — to deliver a viable and fundable plan, but ultimately did not meet expectations, according to external consultants.
Legal Case: Was a Business Plan Required?
DePree’s court documents dispute that the agreement required a commercially viable business model — or that his planning permission was insufficient. He maintains that he has a clear vision, a working plan, and the resources to complete the restoration and secure the hall’s long-term future.
He also alleges that the Rochdale Development Agency, a council-affiliated body, sabotaged his efforts in 2024 by becoming obstructive and undermining trust.
He claims their conduct became “evasive, misleading and at times shocking.”
The council has declined to comment further while legal proceedings are ongoing.
Background: From Indie Films to Historic Mansions
Before his life in heritage conservation, Hopwood DePree had a career in film, including writing and directing the indie rom-com The Last Big Attraction, and producing Virginia (2010), starring Jennifer Connelly and Ed Harris. He funded much of the restoration work by selling his Hollywood Hills home.
His efforts to revive Hopwood Hall have attracted significant public interest, not only because of the dramatic story of personal reinvention, but also because of the challenges of preserving Britain’s vast inventory of decaying historic properties.
What’s Next?
- The High Court will determine whether DePree should be recognised as the rightful owner under the 2017 agreement.
- The ruling could set a precedent for future public-private restoration partnerships.
- In the meantime, work on the hall continues — without DePree — under the direction of the council and Historic England.
This legal battle underscores the complex dynamics between heritage conservation, private investment, and public accountability, in a case that has echoes of both Downton Abbey and Grand Designs — with a courtroom twist.
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