Rescuing an Abandoned English Manor House with Hopwood DePree | Historic England

For more videos on the restoration of Hopwood Hall, visit @HopwoodXIV. Read below for information on how to get into heritage skills!
• Stolen Wood Carvings R...
• Destroyed Plaster Desi...
Would you like to volunteer at Hopwood Hall? Email: [e-mail]
Are you interested in getting into heritage skills? Various training courses and qualifications are available for contractors and craftspeople, from short courses and apprenticeships to foundation degrees.
For more information, visit historicengland.org.uk/servic...
You can also email us at [e-mail]
Typical plasterer day rates in the UK can be between £170 and £350.
Typical woodcarver day rates in the UK can be between £150 and £250.
The Grade II* listed Hopwood Hall in Middleton, near Rochdale in Greater Manchester, England, dates from the 15th century.
In the summer of 2023, we held a school to pass on essential and at-risk traditional heritage crafts to trainees across North England.
The summer school saw trainees participate in craft workshops delivered by master craftspeople, designed to help tackle the critical shortage of essential skills needed to rescue historic buildings nationwide.
Hopwood Hall, one of Greater Manchester’s most important surviving halls, is the ancestral home of Hopwood DePree, the American actor, writer, and filmmaker who is working alongside local volunteers, Historic England, Rochdale Borough Council and Hopwood Hall College to restore and transform it into an artistic and cultural venue.
Find out more about the Heritage Building Skills Programme: historicengland.org.uk/servic...
Chapters
00:00: Caring for Hopwood Hall
01:48: Learning heritage skills
04:04: Hearing from the experts
06:39: Learning how to carve wood
09:10: Hot lime plaster
10:47: Heritage skills for people with dyslexia
11:26: Plastic paint
12:00: The test!
12:20: A career in heritage skills
15:28: The test results!
16:04: Thank you

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you Historic England! It was an honour to collaborate with your entire team and we appreciate all your amazing help in the rescue of Hopwood Hall! 😀

[@HistoricEngland]

Thank you, Hopwood! Keep up the great work rescuing Hopwood Hall 🔨

[@ScottMannion]

you have a private jet? If you have that wealth as a family, you should have gotten there sooner and kept your eye on it. Good you have resumed your duty, though.

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thanks@@ScottMannion haha no it's not my private jet lol. I wish I would have known about the Hall sooner but glad I found out about it when I did. We still have a journey ahead of us but the great news is that it is on the way to being restored its former glory

[@rosalynliddle1353]

Once again,thank you Hopwood for rescuing this lovely building, hat's off to you,for having the bravery to jump in with both feet and coming to rainy England! Thank you also to Historic England for everything they do.

[@HistoricEngland]

Our pleasure!

[@sandrawhelan9159]

Well done Hopwood. It’s amazing to see how far you have come in restoring this old building. Without your enthusiasm this wouldn’t have been possible.Its an incredible untaking and journey for you.

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you so much Sandra! We have been so incredibly lucky to have the amazing support of the dedicated community and grant funders like Historic England -- none of it would be possible without them too!!

[@ellenoneill7853]

How heart warming to see young people learning these skills.

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thanks Ellen!

[@TheBTG88]

So important to keep these skills alive. There are young people out there that these apprenticeships and careers are ideal for - they just need the connection. More of these opportunities are needed!

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you- I totally agree!

[@PeterJPickles]

Keep up the good work from someone born and bred in Hopwood, Heywood :)

[@HistoricEngland]

Hey, thanks!

[@HopwoodXIV]

Great to know you are watching Peter!

[@lyndarichardson4744]

Well done for starting to rescue your ancestral home. I'm glad Historic England is helping.

[@HistoricEngland]

We're happy to help!

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you Lynda! Yes Historic England's support & guidance has been amazing!!

[@lyndarichardson4744]

@@HopwoodXIV 🙂❤️

[@gloriajeanshaeffer1549]

Congrats !!!! Hopwood !!! Yea!!

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thanks Gloria!

[@HistoricEngland]

Thank you!

[@jeanburgin160]

Love what you all are learning and preserving this grand building! All the best to you.

[@HistoricEngland]

Thanks so much!

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you Jean!

[@napili00]

Wishing Hopwood and the entire Hopwood Hall team a Merry Christmas and a most productive 2024! Richard

[@HopwoodXIV]

cheers Richard!

[@happygrandma5637]

Hopwood, it's so great to see you so excited about the woodworking. It seems you are really enjoying this much more than some of the other skills you've been picking up. Must say I'm very impressed with your level for the 1st time. Loved this episode. It would be nice to have a general update on how things are going. The leaded windows, the area where the pigeons were evicted etc.

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you! Yes will do- We appreciate the suggestion!

[@sdwalther2]

Amazing! Brings tears to my eyes. Truly a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved. A great learning experience.

[@HistoricEngland]

Yes it was! So pleased you enjoyed it.

[@HopwoodXIV]

Aw thank you!!

[@karenchesser6348]

Have not heard anything from Hopwood Hall in a long time. I am glad you are getting some apprentice students in to do work. This is such a valuable experience for them in learning the trades. My late Uncle would have been so proud to get in on this. 😊

[@HistoricEngland]

Much appreciated

[@oreoandoz7723]

Still following your restoration journey, Hopwood. Great to see your project featured on additional channels.

[@HistoricEngland]

Thanks 👍

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you!!

[@MicaRayan]

I love this meticulous work! I do construction and this is not an easy task. So many things to deal with

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you! 😀

[@conemadam]

wonderful! i wish I could be a part of something so fufilling.

[@HopwoodXIV]

Perhaps you can try out one of our workshops someday! We would love to have you join us

[@6109river]

Excellent work and gives a lot of young people the opportunity to achieve a new way of life

[@HistoricEngland]

Pleased you think so, thank you!

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you!

[@tysona23]

Thank you so much for doing this. I wish more people would do this too xx

[@HistoricEngland]

No problem 😊

[@HopwoodXIV]

It has been so incredibly rewarding I am looking forward to continuing to learn more! 😀

[@Skattie]

Love it ❤

[@HistoricEngland]

Thanks!

[@jadepasse1803]

Awesome work! I wish I were in the UK so that I could pop on over and try out a workshop! Glad to see the hall continue to come back to life!

[@HistoricEngland]

Maybe one day!

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you Jade! That would be amazing if you could!

[@judithmalan1502]

Phenomenal

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thanks Judith!

[@TheSmokinducks]

Fascinating!

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you!

[@jasonking6892]

Nice one👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@HistoricEngland]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thanks Jason!

[@roperez19]

Congratulations!

[@HistoricEngland]

🥳

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you!

[@fungooloo12]

I love to see history preserved, amazing and I am so happy you are able to do it with the support you need. You should be proud of this adventure you have begun, it will be a long adventure but well worth it, a legacy if you will.

[@HistoricEngland]

Thank you so much!

[@HopwoodXIV]

😀

[@Lickylongtym]

Well done 👏 👍 Hopwood 💛 for your certificate achievement. Good stuff ✨️

[@HistoricEngland]

Yes congratulations, Hopwood! 👏

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thank you so much!

[@AnneNelson]

♥

[@HopwoodXIV]

😀

[@LC-bb6jd]

This video is very interesting!

[@HistoricEngland]

Glad you think so!

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thanks so much!

[@alaahamza62]

i wish i was close to join u man '''

[@HopwoodXIV]

Perhaps one day you can visit and try out one of our workshops! cheers

[@lloovvaallee]

I first misread your title as "Rescuing an English Major". They need help too 😀

[@HopwoodXIV]

😂

[@sianorourke5573]

❤

[@HopwoodXIV]

😀

[@annlyon.2040]

I’m stuck in California. I wish I could learn.

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thanks Ann - Perhaps some day you can visit us!

[@EmilyHannan-yw4yv]

WOW!!! What an astonishing narrative! Your journey is truly inspiring, your dedication love and affection for restoring your family home is incredible. Could I ask to talk further and discuss Bee Ethical, we offer fundraising support to charities and good causes. I believe that Bee Ethical could serve as an invaluable platform for raising vital funds to support this cause. Is there any chance that we could talk further? Kindest regards Emily

[@gavinflorence9416]

How did the family lose the estate to begin with?? Was it death duties? Or lack of Heir? Or was sold? Is the estate entitled with a title? Was it purchased in the past by someone and how did you trace your ancestry back to family and the estate are you a direct descendant?

[@cherylkurucz8852]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@HistoricEngland]

🎉

[@HopwoodXIV]

❤

[@MaverickSeventySeven]

Did you ensure that the ROOF AND GUTTERING WERE SOUND!!!?? And the Foundations, sanitation and water works!? Otherwise, there is no use in"restoring" anything.

[@HopwoodXIV]

Thanks- yes be sure to check out our other videos on our channel which show more of the restoration as it is happening. cheers

[@KyrstOak]

Your camera is far too close to your face. It feels like our noses are touching.

[@HopwoodXIV]

🤣🤣🤣