A magnificent 15th century, Grade I-listed Manor House in West Sussex, with two cottages and 15 acres
Just as the country-house market appeared to be coming off the boil, a picturesque Manor House burst onto the scene.

Newly arrived on the market is historic, Grade I-listed Rymans in the parish of Appledram, West Sussex, a picturesque coastal area three miles south-west of Chichester, bounded to the west by the main channel of Chichester Harbour, to the north by the River Lavant and to the south by a stream that runs into the harbour below Birdham Mill.
He quotes a guide price of £4.5 million for Rymans, described by Pevsner as ‘a delightful small 15th-century manor house’, which takes its name from William Ryman, a prominent merchant and lawyer who was knighted in 1420 and appointed Sheriff of Sussex in 1434. He built the house of stone from the Bembridge and Ventnor quarries in about 1410.
This oldest part of the T-shaped house, which remains largely unaltered, comprises a three-storey stone tower with trefoil windows and a south wing of two storeys under a tiled roof.
In 1654, the Ryman family sold the house to the Smith family of Binderton, who, in 1656, renamed it Appledram Place. The Smiths lived there until 1730 when it passed by marriage to the Bartellot family who owned it until 1913.
The two-storey east wing contains the former hall, built in the early 17th century and extensively remodelled in 1913–14 by the architect and historian Walter Godfrey, who also added the service wing to the north.
In 1913, he replaced the original main staircase to the first-floor Great Chamber with the present 17th-century staircase and rebuilt the fireplace.
Godfrey restored and adapted a number of important historic buildings and gardens throughout the South of England, including Chelsea Old Church, the Memorial Chapel at Eton College and Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, where his reconstruction of the interior was deemed ‘exemplary’ by Pevsner.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Rymans was later owned by the antiquary, Walter Peckham, and then by the Phillimore family, who further altered the house and laid out the splendid Grade II-listed ornamental gardens between 1910 and 1950.
The present owners, who bought Rymans in the mid 1990s, have carried on the inspirational work initiated by their predecessors both inside and outside the house, converting the former stables to provide a second three-bedroom cottage and maintaining and nurturing the manor’s nearly 15 acres of formal and walled gardens, pasture and woodland.
In all, Rymans offers some 5,400sq ft of accommodation in the main house, including four reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, butler’s pantry and office on the ground floor; a central landing/music room, master suite, four bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor; and a further large bedroom with its own separate staircase on the second floor.
Worthy of note are the dining hall with its fine open fireplace, beamed ceiling and original stone floor; the well-proportioned drawing room with its working fireplace and elegant marble surround; the bright and cheerful kitchen/breakfast room; and the spacious master suite with its lovely views over the formal gardens.
Rymans is currently on the market via Savills at a guide price of £4.5 million — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details.
Appledram: What you need to know
Location: Appledram is a small village located 2 miles north of Chichester centre. The nearest train station is located within Chichester, just 1.2 miles away.
Atmosphere: Appledram, also known as Apuldram, is quiet village with a 13th century church and is also home to Dell Quay. There's a cafe and shop within the village.
Things to do: Nearby Chichester is a haven for watersports, with sailing and mooring opportunities in the harbour. The city is also home to the largest Roman residence unearthed in Britain — Fishbourne Roman Palace, which makes for an interesting visit. There are also several large houses that are open to the public and gardens, including Bishop's Palace Gardens.
Schools: Fishbourne C of E Primary School, Bishop Luffa School, Chichester and Chichester High School are all well-regarded local schooling options.
See more property for sale in the area.
The Chichester Harbour AONB, a slice of Sussex where nature, beauty and history come together
Rosie Paterson takes in the all-too-often overlooked Chichester Harbour.
A delightful waterside home for sale that almost dips its toes into Chichester Harbour
The Old Town Hall is a breathtaking property in Bosham, dating from the 17th century overlooking the tidal shores of
Thorney Island, West Sussex: The beauty spot accessed via a secret button through a barbed wire fence
The beaches of Thorney Island, next to Chichester Harbour, are our Secret Britain selection today.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
How the railways will save the countryside, with Gareth Dennis
The engineer and policy expert Gareth Dennis joins the Country Life Podcast.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Become a part of Bath's rich history in this Grade 1-listed Georgian townhouse
With 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
By James Fisher Published
-
Become a part of Bath's rich history in this Grade 1-listed Georgian townhouse
With 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
By James Fisher Published
-
17 delightful homes for sale, as seen in Country Life
Our round-up of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a wonderful Cotswolds home and a happily affordable cottage in the West Country.
By Toby Keel Published
-
'This is the most money you'll spend on anything ever': The things that really matter when buying your first home in London
It’s easy to dream of what the ideal first-home in London might be, but when the cost of living in the capital is this expensive, being near a Gail's isn't as important as you think it is.
By James Fisher Published
-
Get lost in the whispers of a running stream at a one-bedroom Cornish cottage
Formerly the studio and retreat of renowned artist Lamorna Birch, this small home near Lamorna Cove is a delight in every single way.
By James Fisher Published
-
How the high street can change for the better
The high street might not be dying, but it's definitely changing and in some places, it's changing for the better. So, what can the centre of town in the 21st century look like?
By Lucy Denton Published
-
A 17th century country house estate for sale in Yorkshire that's not too big and not too small
Take a look inside one of the finest private houses in the north of England that's perfectly manageable as a family house.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
Two-thirds of us buy a house and immediately set about refurbishing it
We spend more buying our houses than on anything else in our lives — yet the first thing we do on moving in is set about changing the place. Annabel Dixon takes a look at what we do and why.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
Dawn Chorus: Audrey Hepburn’s Swiss villa hits the market for £17 million and research reveals that looking at art can, quite literally, help you live longer
Everything you need to know today: The Swiss home that Audrey Hepburn lived in for 30 years prior to her death is for sale, those who regularly engage with art have a 31% lower risk of dying early and an iconic Palm Beach hotel teams up with interior designer Ashley Hicks.
By Rosie Paterson Published