From the photograph of the front of this that we'd seen, we'd assumed this was your typical stately home. However...
From the Heritage Trail website (part 1): "Just the shell remains of a lovely, 18th century house built on the estate of Appuldurcombe, previously a site with connections to a Norman priory. Surrounded by a vast expanse of rolling downs on the Isle of Wight, this impressive estate was the family seat of the Worsley family for some 300 years.
"Building of the Baroque style house commenced in 1701 to replace the large Tudor house inherited by Sir Robert Worsley, but was not completed until 70 years later, by his great nephew, Sir Richard. This fine country house displays many French architectural influences, and was considered a sophisticated project for its time. Unusually, the central section of the house was not emphasised, but instead Appuldurcombe House had prominent pavilions (or wings) projecting at either end of the building. Elaborate mouldings around the door and windows are absolutely typical of the English Baroque style, although the overall appearance is perhaps more Italian, with its great columns and Corinthian capitals."
