Hopwood Hall Estate — Attraction in Rochdale

Three generations of Hopwoods tried to see the family home this week. Oddly, when we reached out via email, Facebook and phone, we were not offered to stop by - even to volunteer during hours which are publicly posted for Tuesday and Thursday (which I found about later and we could have easily supported). Instead, we received a cold email telling us to have fun on the rest of our trip and to sign up for a future events list.

Based on this, my mother (born Mary Hopwood), who is very elderly and can barely walk will - for the duration of her lifetime - have only peeked through a 2.5 inch slit of 15 foot fence at where her father came from.

I am thrilled that the family estate is being restored. But I am embarrassed and disgusted if this is how one is a “friend” to Hopwood hall.

PS - I was asked to revise my review. However, I find no reason to change it substantially based on my experiences and responses here and elsewhere. From a Hopwood, who actually has the last name and priorities in the right place, I did not see evidence that this project is about Hopwood interests or our heritage… the current scope did not allow for real Hopwoods even to provide free labor. I also recommend that there be heavy scrutiny on the intent and beneficiaries of the restoration.

Nonetheless, I will helpfully add that I suspect someone - maybe a Hopwood - looked through about a dozen visibly decaying bags of rubbish by the embankment and found two beautiful, large, mostly intact panes of the original (leaded?) glass. They are about 1/3” thick and approx 24”x 36” in width on the side of the hall between the two bridges. Maybe they were volunteering on not a Tuesday...

Absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful piece of history! Everyone helping to restore it is very kind and amazing! So glad to see it being...

This is a united utilites building behind hopwood hall college. They are doing maintenance, this is whats...