We have tried to find varieties of apples, pears, plums and gages, and cherries that are native to Norfolk or East Anglia. The list below offers a short description of the fruit, its county of origin and the earliest known recorded date for the variety. The list also groups the fruit by their use type: dessert or eating; dual purpose (suitable for cooking or eating); cooking or culinary.
With thanks to the East of England Apples and Orchards Project for permission to reproduce material from their website (www.applesandorchards.org.uk).
APPLES
DESSERT OR EATING APPLES
CAROLINE (1822: NORFOLK)
Arose at Blickling Hall gardens, near Aylsham, and named after Lord Suffield’s wife. A long keeping green apple flushed pink . Crisp and firm fleshed.
Planted 2013.
HAPPISBURGH (PRE 1925: NORFOLK)
Discovered growing as a chance seedling ain the coastal village of Happisburgh by Henry Goude, of North Burlingham Horticultural Station. A small yellowish green skinned nonpareil-like apple. Quite sharp in flavour.
Planted 2013.
HUBBARD’S PEARMAIN (1796: NORFOLK)
First sold by George Lindley, nurseryman, of Catton near Norwich. In C19th Norfolk it was a very popular gardeners’ choice. Small to medium sized and pearmain-shaped. Green skinned with a lot of russeting and usually with an orange flush. Sweet, rich and complex flavour.
Planted 2012.
LAXTON’S SUPERB (1897: BEDFORDSHIRE)
Raised by Laxton Bros. of Bedford. Wyken Pippin x Cox’s Orange Pippin. A medium sized greenish apple flushed deep carmine and occasionally streaked purple. Firm, crisp flesh that can taste a little like aniseed. Has resistance to canker and mildew.
Planted 2012. Tree did not survive and currently (2014) needs to be replaced.
LONDON PEARMAIN (1842: NORFOLK)
Found growing at Attleborough Hall in 1948. Markedly pearmain-shaped and with a sweet-sharp flavour. Can be quite large in size. The skin is yellowish green with a flush of bright orange.
Planted 2012.
MILLER’S SEEDLING (1848: BERKSHIRE)
Donated to the Orchard by Eric and Jayne Miller.
An early dessert apple developed by Mr James Miller. A sweet, crisp and juicy apple, best enjoyed shortly after picking. The skin is flushed pink.
Planted 2014.
NORFOLK ROYAL (1908: NORFOLK)
Discovered growing as a chance seedling at Wright’s Nursery in North Walsham. Once widely grown in East Anglia. Medium to large in size and almost totally flushed bright red. Crisp and juicy. Unusually greasy skin.
Planted 2013 and 2nd tree planted 2014.
NORFOLK ROYAL RUSSET (1983: NORFOLK)
A russeted ‘sport’ of Norfolk Royal, discovered growing in a garden at Burnham Overy Staithe. A typical ‘nutty tasting’ russet, it has become a popular local gardeners’ choice and is now grown by several farm shops in Norfolk.
Planted 2013.
RED ELLISON (1948: NORFOLK)
A more highly coloured red ‘sport’ of Ellison’s Orange, discovered growing in the Fenland orchards of Harold Selby at Walpole St. Peter. Medium sized. Sweet and slightly aromatic in flavour. Its skin is completely covered in a dull carmine flush with a spicy aroma.
Planted 2012.
ST MAGDALEN (1890: NORFOLK)
Discovered growing at Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen near Downham Market in the orchards of Mr. Bridge. Medium sized and quite Cox-like in flavour but more highly coloured.
Planted 2013.
DUAL PURPOSE APPLES
ADAM’S PEARMAIN (1826: NORFOLK)
Either arose in Norfolk or Herefordshire (where called Hanging Pearmain). Considered an essential fruit for Victorian and Edwardian gardens. A medium sized pearmain-shaped apple with a bright orange red flush and russet. Complex nutty, aromatic, sweet flavour.
Planted 2012. Replaced 2014.
LEEDER’S PERFECTION (1917: NORFOLK)
Raised by Mr. Leeder of Postwick, near Norwich. Parentage unknown. A medium to large sized yellow apple with red stripes. Keeps shape when cooked. Sweet, aromatic flavour.
Planted 2013.
COOKING OR CULINARY APPLES
FIVE CROWNED PIPPIN (1500S: NORFOLK)
Also called London Pippin. Origin confused. Prominently ribbed body. A medium sized green apple with no russet. A long keeper. Quite acidic but can be quite nutty. Keeps its shape when cooked.
Planted 2012.
NORFOLK BEEFING (1689: NORFOLK)
Known in Norfolk for centuries but may have originated in France or Holland. A very long keeping tough skinned and firm fleshed purple flushed apple. Excellent for making dried apple rings, and for baking slowly in a moderate oven to make ‘Biffin cakes’ – once a popular Victorian delicacy around Christmas.
Planted 2012.
NORFOLK DUMPLING (1827: NORFOLK)
Donated to the Orchard by Terry and Diana Stevens.
Place of origin unknown but re-discovered in the 1990s in the garden of a north Norfolk former rectory. A medium sized yellowish green ‘codlin-type’ apple only mildy acidic and which cooks to a light golden puree.
Planted 2014.
STRIPED BEEFING (1794: NORFOLK)
Found growing at Lakenham, near Norwich. A large apple mid green in colour with bold red stripes and a red flush. A long keeper which keeps shape well when cooked. Needs little sugar.
Planted 2012.
WINTER MAJETIN (1734: NORFOLK)
First recorded in Norfolk. A small to medium sized smooth skinned green apple with a brownish orange flush. Excellent keeper. Cooks to a firm brisk puree.
Planted 2013.
PEARS
DESSERT PEARS
SUMMER BEURRE (PEAR) (1863: HERTFORDSHIRE)
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery. One parent is the variety Beurre d’Arenburg. A medium sized greenish yellow conical pear with varying amounts of patchy golden russet. Flesh is fine and very sweet.
Planted 2012.
LAXTON’S SUPERB (PEAR) (1901: BEDFORDSHIRE)
Raised by Laxton Bros. by crossing the varieties Williams Bon Chrétien x Beurre Superfin. Medium sized. Yellowish green with an occasional dull red flush and broken stripes. Flesh is soft and sweet.
Planted 2012.
LAXTON’S FOREMOST (PEAR) (1901: BEDFORDSHIRE)
Raised by Laxton Bros. by crossing the varieties Marecahl de la Cour x Fertility. A large yellow pear. Can have a reddish flush and a few red stripes. Flesh is buttery and sweet.
Planted 2012.
BEURRE BEDFORD (PEAR) (1902: BEDFORDSHIRE)
Raised by Laxton Bros. by crossing the varieties Marie Louise x Durondeau. A large sized pale yellow pear with a scattering of russet. Flesh is firm, aromatic and juicy.
Planted 2012.
GAGES
CAMBRIDGE GAGE (1800S: CAMBRIDGESHIRE)
A greenish yellow skinned gage that is probably a seedling of Green Gage. A more prolific cropper than Green Gage. Sweet, soft, juicy flesh.
Planted 2012. Tree did not survive and currently (2014) needs to be replaced
INGALL’S GRIMOLDBY GREEN GAGE (C.1900: LINCOLNSHIRE)
Raised by William Ingall of Grimoldby, near Louth, as a seedling of a Green Gage. Slightly larger in size than Green Gage. Very sweet in flavour.
Planted 2012.
GREEN GAGE (1700S: SUFFOLK)
In the eighteenth century Thomas Gage of Hengrave Hall, near Bury St. Edmunds, received a shipment of fruit from France that included the gage Reine-Claude (which probably originally came from Armenia). His gardener forgot its proper name so renamed it Green Gage after Thomas. Fruits can be large but not usually heavy cropping. Soft fleshed and juicy.
Planted 2012 and 2nd tree planted 2014.
PLUMS
DESSERT PLUMS
LAXTON’S IDEAL (PRE 1937: BEDFORDSHIRE)
Raised by Laxton Bros. A medium sized oval yellow plum. The flesh is firm and very juicy. A self-fertile, high quality variety.
Planted 2012. Replaced 2014.
WALLIS’S WONDER (C.1960: CAMBRIDGESHIRE)
Raised at Simpsons of Fordham for Eric Wallis of Bluntisham, by crossing the varieties Severn Cross and Victoria. A medium to large sized purple skinned plum with soft, sweet flesh.
Planted 2012.
DUAL PURPOSE PLUMS
OLYMPIA (1904: BEDFORDSHIRE)
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1937. A large oval blue-black coloured plum with a bloom.
Planted 2012.
COOKING OR CULINARY PLUMS
EARLY RIVERS (1834: HERTFORDSHIRE)
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery from the variety Precoce de Tours. A medium sized deep purple coloured plum with a bloom and golden yellow flesh. Heavy cropping.
Planted 2012.
BOUNTIFUL (1900: BEDFORDSHIRE)
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1926. A medium to large sized shaped plum with a pinkish skin and a fine bloom. Self-fertile. Firm fleshed but acidic.
Planted 2012.
LAXTON’S CROPPER (1906: BEDFORDSHIRE)
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1931. A large oval shaped plum with a blue-black skin with a fine bloom. Self-fertile.
Planted 2012.
CHERRIES
COLNEY (C.1980: NORFOLK)
A medium sized dark red skinned variety with deep red coloured flesh. A useful late ripening cherry.
Planted 2012.
ALBA HEART (PRE 1900: HERTFORDSHIRE)
A small, round, shiny black skinned cherry also traditionally found growing in neighbouring Buckinghamshire.
Planted 2012.
SUMMER SUN (C.1900: NORFOLK)
A medium sized dark red coloured variety with good late frost tolerance and suitable for planting in exposed areas. Partially self-fertile.
Planted 2012.
TURKISH BLACK (PRE 1900: HERTFORDSHIRE)
The name would suggest that this cherry may have foreign origins. It is a medium sized cherry with shiny almost black skin and very dark, juicy, flesh.
Planted 2012.
POLSTEAD BLACK MAZZARD (PRE 1940: SUFFOLK)
A small black skinned sweet cherry local to the village of Polstead near Hadleigh. Recorded as being sold on Sudbury market in the 1940s. Distinctively red fleshed and very juicy.
Planted 2012.
