Earlier Houses: There was probably at least one earlier house on, or near, the site of the current house.

House & Family History: In 2022, the Michigan-born actor, screenwriter, and Hollywood producer Hopwood DePree published "Downton Shabby: One American's Ultimate DIY Adventure Restoring His Family's English Castle." The book tells the story of the American's attempt to save his family's 600-year-old country house from dereliction and collapse (Hopwood Hall was abandoned in 1988). The Hopwood family decamped in 1923, after the death of the last two male heirs during World War I. In the 1940s Hopwood Hall was purchased by Lancashire Cotton Corporation, who remained here until 1946, when the house was sold to the De La Salle Brothers, an order of monks, who operated De La Salle College of Higher Education, a school for Catholic teachers, in the house until the 1980s. The estate later came into ownership of the local authority, who continue to own large parts of it today. In 2018 Mr. DePree embarked on a £10 million campaign to restore Hopwood Hall and open it to the public for events, weddings, and for use as a center for the local community. In September of 1811 Lord Byron came to stay with the Gregge-Hopwood family at Hopwood; it was probably during this stay that the famous poet revised the draft for his narrative poem, "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage."

Collections: In 1923 most of the contents of the house were sold at auction.

Garden & Outbuildings: De La Salle College of Higher Education, an affiliate of the University of Manchester, operated on the grounds until the 1980s. Hopwood Hall College (officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on July 17, 1992) took over many De La Salle facilities and continue to operate vocational and technical study programs on the former Hopwood Hall estate today. In the 19th century the house was set within an estate of approximately 5,000 acres.

Chapel & Church: The Grade II-listed deconsecrated Catholic chapel (see "Images" section), built 1964-65 to the designs of Frederick Gibberd, was modeled on Gibberd's 1962 Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, the seat of the archbishop of Liverpool and the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool.

House Listed: Grade II*

Park Listed: Not Listed

Current Seat / Home of: Hopwood DePree, who has lived in a cottage on the estate since 2018.

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Alain de Hopwood, 14th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Edmund Hopwood, 17th century; Edward Gregge-Hopwood, 18th century; Robert Gregge-Hopwood, 19th century; Gregge-Hopwood family here until 1923.

Current Ownership Type: Government

Primary Current Ownership Use: Unoccupied

Ownership Details: Owned by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and managed by the Hopwood Foundation for Heritage, Arts, Education & Inspiration

House Open to Public: Limited Access

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://hopwoodxiv.com/hopwood-hall-estate/

Historic Houses Member: Yes