Well loved old varieties of English apple
Hard Knock, Foxwhelp, Vallis, Kill Boys and Hens' Turds are a few of the rather more odd if colourful names. |
The orchard as planted in 1921 had just six varieties all laid out in blocks of similar types. These are described in the panel opposite. A number of trees have been lost from old age or wind damage and now that the ground has been cleared we're replanting standard trees from old Gloucester types now under threat. We are also planting juicing bush trees in another part of the orchard. It will be easier to pick and prune these by our youngsters. |
For an extensive list of 1882 old English Apple varieties why not check out these links: |
(See main picture) Dating from 1740, this delicious dessert apple cooks well too.
Its aromatic, good with cheese and has a pleasant nutty flavour. Picked from late
September. An Oxfordshire apple.
Our main crop juicing apple, crisp and juicy. It was developed at Melbourne,
Derbyshire in 1887. We begin picking in mid October.
One of the best loved and known of all English apples. A dessert variety, small
and juicy, it was developed in Buckinghamshire in 1825. Picked in late September.
From Newbury, Berkshire in 1890, a sweet, dessert apple juicy but coarse fleshed.
Pick late September.
Our most local apple at present, developed in Worcester in 1875. Reliable, white
skinned juicy and sweet. The first to show and be picked in early September. Dessert.
A new apple in 1921, having been established in 1913 at Southwell Notts.
Coarse flesh, juicy and acidic. We pick it in late October.