The Benedictine community was founded in 1624 in Ghent, from a motherhouse established in Brussels in 1598 by Lady Mary Percy.

[2] In 1794 as a result of the French Revolution the nuns were forced to flee to England, settling initially in Preston, moving in 1811 to Caverswall Castle, Stoke on Trent.

[8] In 2002 the Benedictine community from Fernham Priory, Oxfordshire, closed their house and many members moved into Oulton Abbey.

Only the last superior, Dame Benedicta Scott, remained at Oulton as a resident of the nursing home, until her passing in March 2024.

The property has subsequently undergone substantial refurbishment and is occupied by the Oulton Abbey Care Home.