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Most people who dig deep into their family histories tend to uncover the usual: an unexpected great-great-aunt, a familial home halfway around the world, maybe even a secret sibling. Hollywood producer Hopwood DePree found an ancestral English estate bearing his own name. But Hopwood Hall was falling apart, having sat empty since the Second World War and becoming the victim of age and vandalism. A visit to see the 600-year-old manor\u2014and then another\u2014and another\u2014inspired DePree not only to try to save the hall, but also to trade movie scripts for a hard hat and move to Manchester. He describes his\u2014and the house\u2019s\u2014journey in his new book, Downton Shabby.

Go beyond the episode:

• Hopwood DePree\u2019s Downton Shabby: One American's Ultimate DIY Adventure Restoring His Family's English Castle
• Visit our episode page for vintage photographs of the Hall in its glory days
• Experience a day in the life of the Hopwood Hall restoration efforts on DePree\u2019s YouTube channel
• Listen to our interview with Adrian Tinniswood on why so many English country houses are in ruins
• Revisit the famed 1974 Victoria & Albert exhibition \u201cThe Destruction of the Country House,\u201d or go visit Agecroft Hall and Gardens in Richmond, Virginia, one of several country homes dismantled and reassembled on this side of the Atlantic. In England? Visit Hopwood Hall itself later this month
• Read Sam Knight\u2019s essay about the National Trust\u2019s recent report on colonialism and slavery: \u201cBritain\u2019s Idyllic Country Houses Reveal a Darker History\u201d

Tune in every week to catch interviews with the liveliest voices from literature, the arts, sciences, history, and public affairs; reports on cutting-edge works in progress; long-form narratives; and compelling excerpts from new books. Hosted by Stephanie Bastek.

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