Nostalgia

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Hopwood Hall in its heyday. Susan Fanny Hopwood was passionate about clean air, despite the fact that her home town has more than its fair share of chimneys.
Hopwood Hall in its heyday. Susan Fanny Hopwood was passionate about clean air, despite the fact that her home town has more than its fair share of chimneys.
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Hopwood Hall gets a facelift!

Harold Cunliffe
27/ 5/2005

DON'T get too excited about the headline: the facelift referred to was back in 1968 and today the hall stands in a neglected state.

This massive regeneration project was undertaken when the hall was used by the De La Salle brothers, a Catholic teaching order, with work being carried out by Roofcraft of Farnworth and Dublin-based Biotox.

The reparation work, which took two years, involved replacing the oak roof beams, joists, floorboards and staircases. These had dry rot which would have destroyed the building had repairs not taken place.

Hopwood Hall dates back to Tudor times, and the Hopwood family themselves to Norman times. The last resident of the hall was Susan Fanny Hopwood, a formidable and passionate crusader for smoke control who successfully prosecuted local mill owners for polluting the air.

There was an air of excitement throughout the town on 16 August 1896, when Judith Hopwood married William Henry Von Schroder, the only son of Baron and Baroness William Von Schroder of the Rookery, Nantwich, Cheshire.

Hours prior to the ceremony, townsfolk gathered at the Parish Church, all wanting to gain the best position to watch the ceremony. The ancient church was full to overflowing and large crowds were gathered in the churchyard.

After the ceremony the reception was held at Hopwood Hall, where over 300 wedding gifts were laid out in the library.

At the time, the presents were described as "Many beautiful and useful articles, also with some lovely jewellery.

Restoration is urgently required to preserve this historic hall and its history for future generations.


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Most recent 2 of 4 user comments

   Is there anyone out there, that can help me save this hall? My parents live up on the main road and I have grown up loving this place. I now live in Australia but want to see this place resuced.
Dakini Maddock, Australia
30/09/2007 at 09:41
   Re: Hopwood Hall In researching my family roots in Middleton, I came across some postcards of the Hall,dated 1908. A grand looking woman poses with a horse and dogs. 'Lady Hopwood' is written on the back....would this be Susan or Judith?
Sherren Laybourn, Okehampton Devon uk
13/01/2006 at 16:52
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