Thank you for making this film and bringing more awareness to the project. It was a pleasure to participate and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the rescue of Hopwood Hall! 😀
It's our pleasure Hopwood. Thank you for sharing your passion for such a wonderful building. We're really looking forward to seeing the project as it progresses 🎉
@@HistoricEngland i thought it was surprising this guy from hollywood was just ready to dig in & get dirty while getting to know the community and share with them. fortunately he had some top notch experts and so many whose knew someone from the old days when it viable. well england.. looks like you got a nice bloke there. his momma did him proud.
I think it is just marvellous that it has been made into a community project, all that amazing creative energy will bring the house back to life and will serve the locality for generations to come ;-)
The volunteers and everyone who is working on this project are so fortunate to have the opportunity to do something so positive and constructive.....good luck to you all, keep up the good work.....
I have just caught up with all 45 episodes on utube . What a fantastic worthwhile epic adventure to restore this grand old Dowager , to her former glory . Thank you to everyone involved xx
I fell in love with an old home of 1881 in Farmville, VA and found an old retired carpenter down the street to help, willing to work for $5.00 an hour there wasn't anything he couldn't do. These were some of the best years of my life!
This is such an AWESOME project!!! I'm in Napoleon, Missouri, USA, and wish I could be a part of working on something like this! At 70 years old, I am pretty busy trying to maintain my own farm, tho. Thiw is just FANTASTIC! My familyx's heritage goes back to England, Ireland, Scotland, with my surname being Carrick. One of (now) King Charles' titles is Earl of Carrick. Robert the Bruce is also a relative, from way back. I LOVE the history of all these wonderful places, and it warms my heart to see Mr DePree sharing glimpses of his family's history with little anecdotes learned from his grandfather. This is stunning!! I just subscribed, and will go back to 'catch up' on this project!! Cant wait to see what's going on next!! Thank you!!!! 🥰
How do you think your visions for Hopwood Hall would differ had you been born & raised in England rather than America? May you often visit “across the pond” and may ALL your dreams come true🌵 Great joy overtakes my heart watching you & those wonderful British volunteers + SAVE Hopwood Hall. “God save Hopwood” by DEGREES🌵. Mrs. Janet Wells Native Arizonan Retired KY Public School Teacher from Lewisburg, KY 80 years old (5/25/2023
AS an American with British ancestry (My maiden name is HOWARD...Am I related to the Howard's of HOWARD CASTLE??? sending you tons of support from this side of the 'pond'. YOU have such a fabulous NEW ADVENTURE! AT 72, I don't know if I have any overseas traveling left in me since my husband has dementia, but if that day should come, Hopwood Hall will be on my list!
Hello really great videos. I grew up near Windsor Ontario 1970 s, early 1980 s. CKLW TV channel 9 played at program (BBC or CBC) about an English manner house where most of the staff joined the army. They were shot by the German. Most were killed only a few returned. Could this be Hopwood? Would make an interesting foot note.
Awesome, there is nothing worse than losing historic architecture. I'm becoming very fond of these patchwork additions to the original core building. Out of interest, who actually owns the building and is it going to be publicly accessible when complete?
Hi CM - currently the local Council owns the building but that responsibility will transition over in the coming months. Yes the Hall will be publicly accessible when complete and we are so excited for that day! We are progressing forward at a steady pace!
My maiden name is Taylor, not sure if my Taylor side came from England. But I know my Mothers Hotchkiss side of the family has lots of people from England,even royalty.
You may want title of your former ancestor, you may want to the paperwork before 100 years has passed for the last one who if any where seated in Parliament. The current Baron Grey of Grosby had to proof his over about generations. That work was in before the Parliament ruled on future cases.
Gotta say, I am disappointed to discover that the 5000 acres of private woodland that once belonged to Hopwood Hall was parcelled and sold off, and now the historic country manor house is stuck in the middle of a concrete, paved, college campus, (the original country manor house with it's glorious views of endless forests and colorful rose gardens, is now a crumbling mess completely surrounded with ghastly views of a noisy shopping mall at the back door and a smelly zoo at the front door.) Now I can better understand why nobody in their right mind would ever choose to try and restore that money pit, or hope to make it into a popular tourist attraction, as it's unique attraction as 'a romantic country manor house trapped in time, in a land far far away' has been lost forever, by the people that sold off all the land and allowed a college to build right next to it! Clearly the American guy that recently discovered his abandoned ancestral country manor house online is thinking emotionally, and not rationally, (he cannot see the forest for the trees.) He has allowed his judgement to get the better of him, in a desperate attempt to save his abandoned ancestral home and restore it, while depending on the donation of millions in tax dollars to do so. (It's one thing for the government to donate millions of hard earned British tax dollars to restoration/heritage projects, when the economy is booming, but the global economy has been in the toilet for decades and government debt is now at an all time, record high... if he's depending on the government donating the tens of millions of tax dollars needed to restore that country manor house, the lost rose gardens, and redecorate and furnish the interiors, (for the next 5 years or more) it's not a pragmatic or reliable approach going forward, (government donations could stop any day.) If he wants to spend tens of millions of his own money, to restore his abandoned ancestral home, then that's his business... while you have to admire Hopwood Depree's positive spirit and good intentions, I think he's fighting a losing battle. Firstly, the country manor house is stuck in the middle of a busy college campus... and you can be sure the college wants that crumbling eyesore gone, yesterday, so they can build student housing or more administrative buildings on that land. Secondly, nobody will be interested in visiting that country manor house when it is restored, for various reasons... it's a dying generation of baby boomers that are attracted to those old country manor houses, (as is evident by the group of elderly 'volunteers' working in the garden, that grew up with dated notions of princesses and castles, cowboys and trains.) You can be sure this new generation is not going to make a special trip to see an old country manor house, out in the middle of nowhere... especially when they can't be bothered to leave the house to go to the mall, or cook dinner, or go on a date, (as they simply go online, sit back and have it delivered.) Thirdly, there is too much competition for this historic country manor house, to be a money maker. Sad to say, but there are any number of a dozen bigger and better historic country manor houses like Hopwood Hall, all across Britain, that are already established tourist attractions, (they all offer vast private woodlands surrounding the country manor house with amazing views from each room, the mature botanical gardens, the lush interiors filled with collections of priceless art and rare antiques and the historical figures attached to them... and they're all struggling financially with the constant decline of paying tourists.) The only thing that Hopwood Hall has going for it, is the unique historic and architectural elements, (there are no established gardens, no interiors filled with collections of priceless art and antiques.) If that historic country manor house is going to have any chance at being restored properly and survive the next 100 years, the historic and architectural portions need to be taken apart and transported, to be rebuilt elsewhere... either as a private home on a large secluded country estate in Britain or America, (with a sympathetic, historically accurate new addition added to it, for every day living) or the historic country manor house portion should be donated and transported to an existing metropolitan museum complex in Britain or America, as an additional museum tourist attraction used to display a collection of priceless British art and rare antiques. (Once the historic country manor house is delivered and rebuilt elsewhere, the forgettable newer portions can be demolished and the college can finally use the vacant land to develop as they choose.) I think Hopwood Depree would agree that the historic country manor house, where it is unfortunately located now, would never have been ideal as a private family home for himself, or as a boutique hotel/retreat for paying guests, or as a popular tourist attraction. I think he would welcome the idea of the historic portion of Hopwood Hall remaining in one piece and maintained by people with the money to do so. He could then move back to California to be with his family and friends, and live his life... knowing that his heartfelt effort was not in vain, and his families ancestral country manor house is safe and sound, and it will be appreciated for the next one hundred years or more.
This is going to sound harsh, but that's a pretty joyless take. Why do we anything if everything ran on logic the world would be both a safer yet poorer place. These places should be treated as the community assets that they really are.
@@eagle_rb_mmoomin_418 My comment is based on the property being a BUSINESS that pays for itself, (instead of depending on hard earned tax dollars to pay the bills for decades.) If he wants to use his own money and spend his life renovating it and paying for it's upkeep, then by all means go for it and good luck. As a business 'JOY' doesn't pay the bills and he has a property that has no credible way of being profitable and to blindly go on, thinking otherwise, would just be cruel. He's thinking with his heart and not with his brain, and while passion is vital to succeed, in this case a brutal reality check is in order.
@@ABC_DEF ?? It must be wonderful to live in your precious bubble of rainbows, unicorns and lolly pops... but for those of us living in the real world, the use of hard earned tax dollars to 'save' that forgettable property is irresponsible without a sound business plan that will make it a viable self sustaining business. Yes he is nice and it is nice that he is trying to save it, but it is NOT nice blindly spending other peoples money in the process! And for your information, it's called You Tube not YOUR Tube, and nobody needs your permission to post an opinion in the comment section that may be different than yours.
Thank you for making this film and bringing more awareness to the project. It was a pleasure to participate and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the rescue of Hopwood Hall! 😀
It's our pleasure Hopwood. Thank you for sharing your passion for such a wonderful building. We're really looking forward to seeing the project as it progresses 🎉
@@HistoricEngland i thought it was surprising this guy from hollywood was just ready to dig in & get dirty while getting to know the community and share with them. fortunately he had some top notch experts and so many whose knew someone from the old days when it viable.
well england.. looks like you got a nice bloke there. his momma did him proud.
Incredible building. So glad Hopwood came back to save the place. So much history. Well done to everyone involved 👏 👏👏🙌🙌🙌
I think it is just marvellous that it has been made into a community project, all that amazing creative energy will bring the house back to life and will serve the locality for generations to come ;-)
Couldn't agree more!
The volunteers and everyone who is working on this project are so fortunate to have the opportunity to do something so positive and constructive.....good luck to you all, keep up the good work.....
Absolutely!
Bring the young children to watch ,and play.
There's nothing better for an old place, then a young mind.
Let them help and grow there.
I have just caught up with all 45 episodes on utube . What a fantastic worthwhile epic adventure to restore this grand old Dowager , to her former glory . Thank you to everyone involved xx
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks Jane! Great to know you're along with us on the journey!!😀
I fell in love with an old home of 1881 in Farmville, VA and found an old retired carpenter down the street to help, willing to work for $5.00 an hour there wasn't anything he couldn't do. These were some of the best years of my life!
King Henry V111 and Ann Bolyn tim
Thank you to everyone involved for working to save another precious piece of our wonderful heritage.
We agree!
incredible tribute to the towns peoples efforts...watching & helping their history come alive again.
This is such an AWESOME project!!! I'm in Napoleon, Missouri, USA, and wish I could be a part of working on something like this! At 70 years old, I am pretty busy trying to maintain my own farm, tho. Thiw is just FANTASTIC! My familyx's heritage goes back to England, Ireland, Scotland, with my surname being Carrick. One of (now) King Charles' titles is Earl of Carrick. Robert the Bruce is also a relative, from way back. I LOVE the history of all these wonderful places, and it warms my heart to see Mr DePree sharing glimpses of his family's history with little anecdotes learned from his grandfather. This is stunning!! I just subscribed, and will go back to 'catch up' on this project!! Cant wait to see what's going on next!! Thank you!!!! 🥰
How do you think your visions for Hopwood Hall would differ had you been born & raised in England rather than America? May you often visit “across the pond” and may ALL your dreams come true🌵 Great joy overtakes my heart watching you & those wonderful British volunteers + SAVE Hopwood Hall. “God save Hopwood” by DEGREES🌵.
Mrs. Janet Wells
Native Arizonan
Retired KY Public School Teacher
from Lewisburg, KY
80 years old (5/25/2023
Awesome work has been done on this place, Brilliant.
We agree!
I love this story. Carry on, lad!!
Fantastic legacy to repair Hopwood Hall.
It sure is!
AS an American with British ancestry (My maiden name is HOWARD...Am I related to the Howard's of HOWARD CASTLE??? sending you tons of support from this side of the 'pond'. YOU have such a fabulous NEW ADVENTURE! AT 72, I don't know if I have any overseas traveling left in me since my husband has dementia, but if that day should come, Hopwood Hall will be on my list!
Mind boggling work! Thanks for the inspiration!❤❤
You're welcome!
LOVE this so much. Kudos and good luck!
Thanks!
Super excited for you!!!
🎉
Love this! Can’t wait to see progress.
Thank you!!
Hopwood Hall, Lancashire. ❤
Living the dream. Many of us are living the nightmare.
Hello really great videos. I grew up near Windsor Ontario 1970 s, early 1980 s. CKLW TV channel 9 played at program (BBC or CBC) about an English manner house where most of the staff joined the army. They were shot by the German. Most were killed only a few returned. Could this be Hopwood? Would make an interesting foot note.
How is the Hall coming along. I really enjoyed this. I wish I still lived in UK .
Glad you enjoyed it
You need a tee shirt for your Hall with By DePrees.
Awesome, there is nothing worse than losing historic architecture. I'm becoming very fond of these patchwork additions to the original core building.
Out of interest, who actually owns the building and is it going to be publicly accessible when complete?
Hi CM - currently the local Council owns the building but that responsibility will transition over in the coming months. Yes the Hall will be publicly accessible when complete and we are so excited for that day! We are progressing forward at a steady pace!
Why didn't that historic society throw a tarp on the manor to prevent further damage
❤
I hope you get to insulate the roof and make it controlled environment to safe the historical pieces.
My maiden name is Taylor, not sure if my Taylor side came from England. But I know my Mothers Hotchkiss side of the family has lots of people from England,even royalty.
You may want title of your former ancestor, you may want to the paperwork before 100 years has passed for the last one who if any where seated in Parliament. The current Baron Grey of Grosby had to proof his over about generations. That work was in before the Parliament ruled on future cases.
I was waiting for something like this! You may be interested in Promo'SM!
Gotta say, I am disappointed to discover that the 5000 acres of private woodland that once belonged to Hopwood Hall was parcelled and sold off, and now the historic country manor house is stuck in the middle of a concrete, paved, college campus, (the original country manor house with it's glorious views of endless forests and colorful rose gardens, is now a crumbling mess completely surrounded with ghastly views of a noisy shopping mall at the back door and a smelly zoo at the front door.) Now I can better understand why nobody in their right mind would ever choose to try and restore that money pit, or hope to make it into a popular tourist attraction, as it's unique attraction as 'a romantic country manor house trapped in time, in a land far far away' has been lost forever, by the people that sold off all the land and allowed a college to build right next to it! Clearly the American guy that recently discovered his abandoned ancestral country manor house online is thinking emotionally, and not rationally, (he cannot see the forest for the trees.) He has allowed his judgement to get the better of him, in a desperate attempt to save his abandoned ancestral home and restore it, while depending on the donation of millions in tax dollars to do so. (It's one thing for the government to donate millions of hard earned British tax dollars to restoration/heritage projects, when the economy is booming, but the global economy has been in the toilet for decades and government debt is now at an all time, record high... if he's depending on the government donating the tens of millions of tax dollars needed to restore that country manor house, the lost rose gardens, and redecorate and furnish the interiors, (for the next 5 years or more) it's not a pragmatic or reliable approach going forward, (government donations could stop any day.) If he wants to spend tens of millions of his own money, to restore his abandoned ancestral home, then that's his business... while you have to admire Hopwood Depree's positive spirit and good intentions, I think he's fighting a losing battle. Firstly, the country manor house is stuck in the middle of a busy college campus... and you can be sure the college wants that crumbling eyesore gone, yesterday, so they can build student housing or more administrative buildings on that land. Secondly, nobody will be interested in visiting that country manor house when it is restored, for various reasons... it's a dying generation of baby boomers that are attracted to those old country manor houses, (as is evident by the group of elderly 'volunteers' working in the garden, that grew up with dated notions of princesses and castles, cowboys and trains.) You can be sure this new generation is not going to make a special trip to see an old country manor house, out in the middle of nowhere... especially when they can't be bothered to leave the house to go to the mall, or cook dinner, or go on a date, (as they simply go online, sit back and have it delivered.) Thirdly, there is too much competition for this historic country manor house, to be a money maker. Sad to say, but there are any number of a dozen bigger and better historic country manor houses like Hopwood Hall, all across Britain, that are already established tourist attractions, (they all offer vast private woodlands surrounding the country manor house with amazing views from each room, the mature botanical gardens, the lush interiors filled with collections of priceless art and rare antiques and the historical figures attached to them... and they're all struggling financially with the constant decline of paying tourists.) The only thing that Hopwood Hall has going for it, is the unique historic and architectural elements, (there are no established gardens, no interiors filled with collections of priceless art and antiques.) If that historic country manor house is going to have any chance at being restored properly and survive the next 100 years, the historic and architectural portions need to be taken apart and transported, to be rebuilt elsewhere... either as a private home on a large secluded country estate in Britain or America, (with a sympathetic, historically accurate new addition added to it, for every day living) or the historic country manor house portion should be donated and transported to an existing metropolitan museum complex in Britain or America, as an additional museum tourist attraction used to display a collection of priceless British art and rare antiques. (Once the historic country manor house is delivered and rebuilt elsewhere, the forgettable newer portions can be demolished and the college can finally use the vacant land to develop as they choose.) I think Hopwood Depree would agree that the historic country manor house, where it is unfortunately located now, would never have been ideal as a private family home for himself, or as a boutique hotel/retreat for paying guests, or as a popular tourist attraction. I think he would welcome the idea of the historic portion of Hopwood Hall remaining in one piece and maintained by people with the money to do so. He could then move back to California to be with his family and friends, and live his life... knowing that his heartfelt effort was not in vain, and his families ancestral country manor house is safe and sound, and it will be appreciated for the next one hundred years or more.
This is going to sound harsh, but that's a pretty joyless take. Why do we anything if everything ran on logic the world would be both a safer yet poorer place. These places should be treated as the community assets that they really are.
Hopwood Hall is worth saving, and Hopwood DePree is saving it. He also has plans for its use long-term. What's your problem?
@@eagle_rb_mmoomin_418 My comment is based on the property being a BUSINESS that pays for itself, (instead of depending on hard earned tax dollars to pay the bills for decades.) If he wants to use his own money and spend his life renovating it and paying for it's upkeep, then by all means go for it and good luck. As a business 'JOY' doesn't pay the bills and he has a property that has no credible way of being profitable and to blindly go on, thinking otherwise, would just be cruel. He's thinking with his heart and not with his brain, and while passion is vital to succeed, in this case a brutal reality check is in order.
@@ABC_DEF ?? It must be wonderful to live in your precious bubble of rainbows, unicorns and lolly pops... but for those of us living in the real world, the use of hard earned tax dollars to 'save' that forgettable property is irresponsible without a sound business plan that will make it a viable self sustaining business. Yes he is nice and it is nice that he is trying to save it, but it is NOT nice blindly spending other peoples money in the process! And for your information, it's called You Tube not YOUR Tube, and nobody needs your permission to post an opinion in the comment section that may be different than yours.