Future of 'Downton Shabby' to be decided at trial

A former US filmmaker is gearing up for a two-day High Court trial against Rochdale Borough Council over control of his ancestral stately home, which he’s been restoring for seven years. Council representative Geraint Wheatley requested the extended trial to cover the extensive evidence from DePree. The interim hearing at Manchester Civil Justice Centre saw attendance from fifteen former members of the Friends of Hopwood Hall community group. The council has previously stated that any potential sale hinges on DePree presenting a commercially viable business model to ensure the hall’s long-term future.

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