Orchards, Trees & Orchard ProduceSome Essex Fruit
Orchards, Trees & Orchard Produce
Some Essex Fruit
Queen
Dessert Apples
Acme raised by Seabrook & Sons, Boreham 1944. Braintree Seedling raised in Braintree by Mrs Humphreys 1930. D’Arcy Spice discovered in a garden at the Hall, Tolleshunt d’Arcy, south west of Colchester in about 1785. Cultivated by nurseryman John Harris in 1848. Well-known in East Anglia, it does best in sandy soil and dry areas. Needs a hot, dry summer to gain its richly aromatic and spicy flavour which improves with storage. Not a beauty, but well-worth growing. Skin yellowish-green with pale brown-grey russet. Firm, sweet, nutty and juicy. Discovery a very popular new variety, raised by Mr Dummer in Langham in about 1949. Thought to be a cross between Worcester Pearmain and Beauty of Bath and introduced in 1963. Crimson with pale yellow russetted dots. Crisp, juicy and fairly sweet. Good in fresh fruit salad. Edith Hopwood raised in Hornchurch by Mr Thorrington in around 1925. Eros raised by Seabrook & Sons, Boreham in 1947. Flame raised by Seabrook & Sons, Boreham 1925. Francis raised in Hornchurch by Mr Thorrington in 1925. Garnet raised by Seabrook & Sons, Boreham 1936. George Cave is perhaps the best early apple often ready before the end of July. Thought to be a chance seedling nurtured by George Cave of Dovercourt in about 1923. Attractive yellowy-green fruit flushed with crimson. Crisp, juicy and slightly acid. Grey Pippin found in 1980 by John Tann, may be same as late 19th century variety. Maclean’s Favourite raised by Dr Allan Maclean, Colchester in about 1820. Maldon Wonder raised in Heybridge 1900 by Mr Mynard. Montfort raised by Mr Sadler of Woodford Green 1928. Nolan Pippin from Mrs Woodward of Colchester around 1920. Opal raised by Seabrook & Sons, Boreham 1936. Pearl raised by Seabrook & Sons, Boreham 1938. Red James Grieve, discovered in orchards of Seabrook & Sons, Boreham in 1922. Rosy Blenheim raised in Hornchurch by Mr Thorrington 1925. Ruby (Seabrook) raised by Seabrook & Sons, Boreham 1936. Ruby (Thorrington) raised at Hornchurch by Mr Thorrington 1925. Seabrook’s Red raised by Seabrook & Sons, Boreham 1925. Sturmer Pippin raised by nurseryman Ezekiel Dillstone in Sturmer, on the border with Suffolk near Haverhill in about 1800 from Ribston Pippin x Nonpareil. His grandson Thomas took some scion wood with him when he emigrated to Australia. It was widely grown in Tasmania and imported to the UK – 800,000 bushels arrived in 1934. It is susceptible to canker and needs a hot summer to produce its full flavour. High in vitamin C. Firm, fresh, juicy with a hint of gooseberry. Excellent with cheese. Stradbroke, Sunburn raised in Hornchurch 1925 by Mr Thorrington. Tun Apple, details of origin unknown but in Essex 1800. West View Seedling discovered by Mr Rainbird of Billericay in 1932.
Cooking Apples
Chelmsford Wonder raised near Chelmsford 1870 by William Saltmarsh, a mechanic. Excelsior raised at Seabrook & Sons, Boreham in 1921. London Pippin / Five Crowned Pippin may be from Essex, or Norfolk, 18th century, widely grown in 19th century. Monarch raised at Seabrook & Sons, Boreham 1888, grown in Essex for London markets in 20th century, and popular during WWII as it needs little extra sugar. Queen raised by Mr Bull, a farmer of Billericay in 1858, from pips from an apple brought at the local market, widely planted in Essex. Stanway Seedling first found in Essex 1899. Waltham Abbey Seedling raised at Waltham Abbey by John Barnard in 1810. Woodford, known in Colchester area around 1900 but origin unknown, has pretty dark pink flowers.
Pears
Gansel’s Bergamot may be a seedling of Autumn Bergamot, thought to have been raised in 1768 at Donneland Hall, now Donyland Park near Colchester, best for cooking. Johnny Mount Pear, pre-1900 but origin unknown, but known particularly around Colchester. Russetted, eating pear. Suffolk Thorn raised by Andrew Arcedeckene at Clavering Hall before 1841.
Plums
Prince of Wales raised at Brentford in 1830.
This list was compiled using many sources including the East of England Apples and Orchards Project county gazetteers, and The New Book of Apples by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards (Ebury Press 2002).
For more information and a list of ‘lost’ varieties of Essex contact the East of England Apples and Orchards Project on +44(0)1328 838403 or see their web-site.
Please get in touch with any additions or corrections
