Council wins 'Downton Shabby' High Court case

An American man has lost his legal bid to take ownership of a historic mansion for £1.

Hopwood DePree, who claims ancestral links to the Grade II-listed Hopwood Hall in Middleton, Rochdale, said he was "incredibly disappointed" after a judge at the High Court in Manchester ruled against him.

DePree, an actor and filmmaker, argued a 2017 agreement with Rochdale Council gave him the option to buy the manor house after securing planning permission to restore and redevelop it.

However, Judge David Hodge KC found the conditions required for ownership of the property to transfer had not been met.

Despite its current state, Hopwood Hall was described as being in the top 10% of most important listed buildings in England, the court heard.

DePree's plans included a wedding venue, hotel accommodation and visitor attractions aimed at bringing the hall back to life.

However, Rochdale Council decided in 2022 not to transfer ownership of the hall to DePree and later locked him and a group of volunteers out of the site.

The court heard the legal costs were about £150,000, with the council expected to seek an order requiring DePree to pay them.

A Rochdale Council spokesperson said the council was 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 invested in this process could have been better spent on the hall itself," they said.

The spokesperson said more than £1.6m had been spent on the hall by the council and Historic England since 2017, and that investment in vital repairs would continue while its long-term future was "considered in due course".

They added that, once restored and refurbished, the building would be "used for the benefit of the wider community of Middleton who rightly cherish it as an important part of Middleton's rich and varied heritage".

DePree published a book about his campaign to restore the hall in 2022, titled Downton Shabby.

Speaking after the ruling, he said he was "incredibly disappointed" and described it as "a sad day".

He said he was discussing next steps with his legal team, adding: "We are not giving up. Hopwood Hall must be saved."

"I am getting messages from around the world from people offering money and support," he added.

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