Appuldurcombe House, Isle of Wight

It began life as a priory in 1100. It became a convent, then the Elizabethan home. Of the Leigh family. The large Tudor mansion was bequeathed in 1690 to Sir Robert Worsley who planned its replacement. The present house was begun in 1702. Then it was greatly extended in the 1770's by his nephew Sir Richard Worsley, where he brought his new wife Seymour Dorothy Fleming, whom he married for love and £80,000. Capability Brown designed the ornamental grounds in 1779.
It was passed down through many of the family hands who all gradually ran it into debt.
In 1855 the estate was sold and an unsuccessful business venture ran it as a hotel, then as an Academy for young gentlemen, both which failed.
In 1901-1907 it was inhabited by a hundred Benedictine Monks who had been exiled from Solesmes Abbey in France and were shortly to settle at Quarr Abbey also on the Isle of Wight.
Troops were billeted in the house during both world wars. A Dornier Do 217 dropped a mine very close to the house resulting in a hole in the roof which was left un-repaired and after the war the rest of the roof and interiors were removed and sold off.
It is known as the most haunted place on the Island and ghost walks are held every Thursday evening.

Today it is just a shell of large C18 baroque country house of the Worsley family. See extra also.

Thanks to the Ministry of Works in the 1950's, it was saved and is today run by English Heritage and it is free to wander the house and grounds at your will.

And very enjoyable it was too.