In 1701 work began to replace a large Tudor house with the present building, but was not completed until 70 years later. This fine country house was built in the Palladian style and was considered a sophisticated project for its time. The extensive grounds were landscaped by Capability Brown.

Appuldurcombe has seen many changes over the years. Originally a priory of the Norman abbey of Monteburg, it was a family seat to the Worsley family for some 300 years. In 1805 it became a convenient base for Baron Yarnborough to sail at Cowes. Appuldurcombe was used as an hotel and then for a time it accommodated a boys’ school.

However, at the beginning of the 20th century Appuldurcombe House was empty until Benedictine monks who had been forced from France into exile took up residence there.

Under the Law of Associations of 1901 religious orders which were not productive, by the utilitarian standpoint of the French government, were no longer permitted to exist.

Even before the Law had been passed, the abbot of Solesmes, Dom Paul Delatte, had made enquires  about where in the south of England a house could be found large enough to accommodate close on a hundred monks. By the end of September 1901 they were all there in residence, with their important library.; They had not been driven out, but had gone into voluntary exile in the face of unjust laws. The Isle of Wight was not so far from France, should things take a better shape and a return to Solesmes become feasible.

Meanwhile Appuldurcombe was rather cramped. A prefabricated iron chapel was speedily erected, where the monks could hold their services with due solemnity.

The lease was due to expire in June 1908 and the agents were asking more to purchase the place than the monks could afford. So the community started looking elsewhere on the Island and found Quarr Abbey House, Binstead.