Little Henny, Sudbury, Essex

The Ryes is a beautifully restored Grade II listed Georgian house and cottage, set high on the Essex–Suffolk border with sweeping views of the Stour Valley. Once a school, it’s now a light-filled family home perfect for family life and entertaining.

ABOUT THIS HOUSE
The Ryes is a Grade II listed Georgian country house and four bedroom Coach House in the hamlet of Little Henny, designed in 1809 by the architect Robert Lugar for Nathaniel Barnardiston. Set in an elevated and private position on the Essex–Suffolk border, it enjoys far-reaching views across the Stour Valley and the countryside beyond.

Once a school, the house was later restored by the current owners, who have created a remarkable family home that blends period elegance with everyday comfort. Original features have been beautifully preserved, including the sweeping staircase, cornicing, parquet floors and sash windows that fill the rooms with light.

At the heart of the home is the kitchen, with its large sash windows overlooking the gardens, land and the valley beyond. It is a space made for the hustle and bustle of daily family life, cooking and gathering, and it flows perfectly into the adjoining rooms. The dining room is seriously impressive, a place to host large numbers of family and friends with ease, while the drawing room and children’s playroom create a wonderful balance of family and grown-up space. The clever layout ensures spaces for everyone.

Upstairs, seven en-suite bedrooms include a wonderful principal suite with dual dressing rooms and a luxurious bathroom overlooking the grounds.

The Ryes is a house of light, flow and balance, full of history, and life.

ABOUT THIS AREA
The Ryes sits on the edge of the Stour Valley, a landscape that has inspired artists for centuries, including Gainsborough and Constable. This stretch of countryside, with its meadows, winding lanes and wide skies, captures the very best of life on the Essex–Suffolk border.

Just a couple of miles away, Sudbury offers independent shops, cafés, and galleries, as well as a regular train service to London Liverpool Street in under an hour from nearby Marks Tey. The villages of Bures and Nayland are close by, while Colchester, 14 miles south, provides a wider range of amenities and cultural attractions.

There is plenty to enjoy locally, from walks along the Stour Valley Path to sailing, paddleboarding and fishing on the nearby estuaries. Golf can be found at Newton Green and Stoke by Nayland, while the surrounding market towns host lively farmers’ markets and great country pubs.

The area is also renowned for its schooling, with excellent choices including Littlegarth, Old Buckenham Hall, Holmwood House, Felsted, Ipswich School, Ipswich High and the Royal Hospital School, alongside two outstanding grammar schools in Colchester.


TOWNS AND STATIONS
Sudbury 3.5 miles
Marks Tey Station 13 miles
Colchester 14.8 miles
Ipswich 23 miles
London Stansted 29 miles
London Liverpool Street from 82 minutes