Centuries old original wooden panels returned to historic Hopwood Hall

A pair of original carved wooden panels from the Hopwood Hall estate have been returned to the historic Grade-II* listed mansion.

Two wooden panels, dating back to the 1500’s, were bestowed upon Hopwood DePree, an actor and producer from Los Angeles, who is restoring his ancestral home, by a local couple, known only as Jim and Tracey, in September.

Hopwood has an exclusive legal agreement with the council to enable him to have up to five years to rescue the 12th century manor before he assumes full possession of his ancestral home, which has lain vacant for 30 years and is now on Historic England’s 'At Risk' register.

Hopwood said: “It turns out that Jim’s father Stuart was a key historian at Hopwood Hall. He was there way back in the 1960’s, which is one of the reasons why he had the carvings.

“He wanted to return them to the hall, but didn’t feel like it was safe; he thought they would be in jeopardy.

“He’s since passed away and they were passed down to Jim and Tracey.

“We are so lucky Jim and Tracey saved these, all these years. The panels are 500 years old. That’s older than America, older than the Liberty Bell.”

Hopwood is in the process of trying to locate the room which the panels have come from, based on the existing carvings throughout the hall.

The old hall dates back to feudal days, and still retains many structural and architectural features from the 14th century right until present day, including some of the earliest English Gothic intricate wood carvings and elaborate ornate fireplaces.

The original hall was of early timber construction, rebuilt in Tudor brick by John Hopwood during 1687-90. Painstakingly intricate wood carvings, hundreds of years old, can be found covering the walls inside the hall.

Hopwood Hall was later taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation before the manor house was acquired in 1947 by the De La Salle brothers for their teacher training college.

During the 1960s, new living, teaching and administrative quarters were built for 600 students, and the hall became a centre for students, until Hopwood Hall College opened in 1990.

Hopwood has been chronicling the restoration of the building via video, which can be viewed at:

• https://www.youtube.com/c/HopwoodXIV