Photo: Cpsterling / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Appuldurcombe House is a Grade I listed historic house in Isle of Wight, cared for by English Heritage. Read about its history, architecture and gardens, plus how to visit and what's nearby.
About Appuldurcombe House
Appuldurcombe House stands near Wroxall on the Isle of Wight as a Grade I listed baroque mansion reduced to a roofless shell.
Built for the Worsley family in the early 18th century, it was once the grandest house on the island.
The architect John James designed the east front, which still displays the formal proportions of its baroque style.
A landmine struck the house during the Second World War; the subsequent loss of its roof left the structure in its current state.
Lancelot 'Capability' Brown landscaped the surrounding grounds, and English Heritage now manages the house and its eleven acres of parkland, which are open to visitors.
Read more on WikipediaHistory of Appuldurcombe House
The Worsley family held the estate for generations and rebuilt the house in baroque style in the early 1700s, replacing an earlier Tudor residence on the same site. During the Second World War, the house was hit by a landmine in 1943. It subsequently lost its roof, leaving the structure as the shell seen today.
Architecture of Appuldurcombe House
The surviving east front shows the formal baroque proportions of the early 18th-century rebuilding, attributed to the architect John James. The building is a Grade I listed structure despite its ruined state.
Worth knowing
Capability Brown redesigned the surrounding parkland, one of his commissions on the Isle of Wight.
Gardens & grounds at Appuldurcombe House
The eleven acres of grounds, laid out by Capability Brown, are open for walking and picnicking and support wildlife.
Facilities
Plan your visit to Appuldurcombe House
Nearest station: Shanklin Rail Station (2.6 miles)
Places to visit near Appuldurcombe House
St Catherine's Oratory
View St Catherine's Oratory on heritage mapCulver Battery
View Culver Battery on heritage mapMottistone Manor
View Mottistone Manor on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Appuldurcombe House there are 1 historic properties, including 1 lighthouse.
Within 10 miles of Appuldurcombe House there are 6 historic properties, including 1 historic building, 1 castle and 1 fort, across English Heritage and National Trust sites.
Within 20 miles of Appuldurcombe House there are 19 historic properties, including 5 castles, 4 forts and 3 historic houses, across English Heritage, National Trust and Historic Houses sites.
Stay nearby
Make more of your visit with an overnight stay near Appuldurcombe House.
Find places to stay nearby Affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.Facts
A Capability Brown landscape wrapped around the baroque shell of the island's grandest lost house.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Isle of Wight, England
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