The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Ditch Hollywood to renovate the castle of his ancestors in England

2022-12-10T08:10:20.095Z


Five years ago, actor Hopwood DePree left sunny Los Angeles to settle in the north of England and save a family heirloom.


Of course, Hopwood DePree had heard as a child that a castle belonged to his family in England, but this Hollywood producer had always believed that it was a legend.

Until the day he discovered the place: a 15th century property, with sixty rooms.

Since 2017, the American has left California to devote himself to the renovation of the castle in the north of England, near Manchester, and to say that he has a lot to do is an understatement.

The story begins one evening in 2013: Hopwood DePree is surfing a genealogy site and comes across an old photo.

"This is the place my grandfather used to tell me about!"

he thinks.

The house is called Hopwood Hall.

So that's where his strange first name comes from, passed down from generation to generation, and of which he was ashamed for so long!

He goes there shortly after

“just out of curiosity”

.

When he pushes open the door, part of the roof has collapsed.

Hopwood remembers mud on the ground, animals prowling.

But also

“coming from Los Angeles”

of his

“emotion”

in the face of History which falls on him, and all that is still there,

“chimneys, doors”

and the birth room where his ancestors were born.

But locals who show him around warn him:

'They told me that if nothing was done within 5-10 years, Hopwood Hall would collapse and be lost forever'

.

Aerial view of Hopwood Hall, the ancestral home of Hopwood DePree, in Middleton, northern England, November 28, 2022. OLI SCARFF / AFP

Like many English aristocratic residences that fell into disuse and became too expensive to maintain, the castle had been abandoned for several decades.

The owners, distant relatives of Hopwood, had left it, without an heir after the death of their two sons killed in the First World War.

It was used as a factory for manufacturing uniforms during the Second World War, then monks took over.

And nothing more.

Carved joinery

Five years ago Hopwood DePree, helped by locals, began the renovation, and we are still very far from Downton Abbey, the English mansion of the eponymous hit series.

Not without humor, Hopwood has also titled his book published by Harper Collins

Downton shabby

(Downton shabby).

He describes his laborious progress and his new life with enthusiasm.

"Wherever you look, there is something to do,"

says the 52-year-old man, who is easily imagined in Hollywood with his blond hair and blue eyes.

"I knew it was a massive project, but I had no idea the amount of challenges ahead of me."

Read alsoChristmas: our selection of wonderful activities in castles

Visiting the site, hard hat on his head, Hopwood warns: a hole in the floor, a badly placed beam.

Workers are busy on the facade.

The 39 chimneys are being renovated, the roof in part too.

The emergency is the windows.

"It's a race against time, especially with the heavy rains in the region

. "

Not to mention the bats.

It shows the marvels that have resisted time and thieves: the family emblem on the chimneys, the centuries-old sculpted woodwork, the diamond-shaped windows.

A fireplace was donated by Lord Byron (1788-1824), says Hopwood DePree.

The English Romantic poet is said to have written several of his poems in the castle.

The composer Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) is said to have played in the banquet hall.

Concerts and exhibitions

Hopwood has launched a YouTube channel to share his adventure where there is no shortage of self-mockery about his very limited DIY skills.

“I try to learn, but that's not my strength.

Most of the project, I spend it behind my computer

.

Funding must be found: the project should still cost around 10 million pounds (11.6 million euros).

The government agency Historic England or the town of Rochdale participate.

Residents are helping to renovate the premises.

“Many are attached to the castle.

Their ancestors worked here.

In

its heyday it was a major employer in the area, which is now one of the poorest in England.

, says the neo-châtelain.

Eventually, Hopwood Hall should host concerts, exhibitions, weddings in the gardens.

Hopwood DePree hopes to complete the project in five years:

“Sometimes I miss the LA sun.

But I have no regrets.

I feel at home here”

.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-12-10

You may like

News/Politics 2024-03-29T08:25:26.990Z
News/Politics 2024-03-29T09:25:34.062Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.