Appley House
| Appley House | |
| Hampshire | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SZ60419245 |
| Location: | 50°43’43"N, 1°8’44"W |
| History | |
| Country house | |
| Information | |
| Condition: | Converted to a convent |
Appley House (also known as St Cecilia's Abbey) is a country house and abbey in Appley Rise, by Ryde on the Isle of Wight, Hampshire.
The house stands at the extremity of Ryde. It is much and deservedly admired for the singular beauty of its situation. The wood, which grows close down to the sea-shore, is a noble object from the house, and presents an agreeable retreat from the heat of summer.
History
Appley House stands on the site of a house which was formerly occupied by a notorious smuggler named Boyce (d. 1740), who for a long series of years had been engaged in the illicit trade in the "back of the island", and who, having sufficiently increased his savings, purchased Appley and retired there, seemingly far removed from his former connections and avocations. Boyce even aspired to a seat in Parliament, smuggling not then being looked upon as a very heinous offence.
Close by stands Appley Towers, the seat of the family of William Hutt MP, who bought it in the 1870s.[1] Appley was for many years the mansion house of the Hutt family. One of the proprietors of this estate was Governor of the Colony of Western Australia.
In 1922, a Roman Catholic order of nuns, who left France to ab]void the 3rd Republic's anti-clerical laws, bought the house and turned it into 'St Cecilia's Abbey'.[2]
References
- ↑ Elford, June; Gascoigne, Steve (2004). Isle of Wight Gem of the Solent. Coach House Publications Ltd. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-899392-33-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=I1DVSpsMqPEC&pg=PA11.
- ↑ Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Hampshire & The Isle of Wight, 1967 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-09606-4page 227
- Jenkinson, Henry Irwin: 'Jenkinson's practical guide to the Isle of Wight' (1876)
- Brettell, Thomas: 'Handbook to the Isle of Wight' (1844)
