Orchards, Trees & Orchard Produce

Some Kentish Fruit

Dessert Apples
Bascombe’s Mystery known in Kent since mid 19th century. Brenchley Pippin from Brenchley, described in 1884. Christmas Pearmain raised by Mr Manser, introduced by G Bunyard, nurseryman in Maidstone, recorded 1893. Cobham. Colonel Vaughan / Kentish Pippin thought to be from Kent in the late 17th century. Diamond Jubilee raised around 1889, thought to be by Mr Thomas of Rainham. Falstaff raised by Dr Alston at East Malling Research Station in around the 1980s. Fiesta / Red Pippin raised by Dr Alston of East Malling Research Station in 1972. Folkestone from Chandler & Dunn, in Ash 1964. Fred Webb raised by FW Webb around 1935, at G Bunyard & Co nursery in Maidstone. Gascoyne’s Scarlet from Mr Gascoyne of Bapchild Court, Sittingbourne, and introduced in 1871, a good variety for chalk. Golden Knob from late 1700s at Enmore Castle, Somerset, popular with Kentish market gardeners supplying London markets in the 19th century. Great Expectations raised by Mr A Nobbs a retired gardener in about 1945 and introduced by Hammond Stock Nursery of Bearsted. Greensleeves, Jester, Jupiter raised in 1966 by Dr Alston at East Malling Research Station. Kent / Malling Kent raised in 1949 by HM Tydeman at East Malling Research Station. Kentish Quarrenden. Lady Sudeley raised in about 1949 by Mr Jacobs who called it Jacob’s Strawberry. He is thought at that time to have been the Bailiff of Sharsted Farm, Chatham in Kent, then took the apple to Petworth with him. It was renamed by George Bunyard & Co nursery, Maidstone, Kent. Lamb Abbey Pearmain raised in 1804 by Mrs Mary Malcolm, Lamb Abbey, Dartford from a pip. Mabbott’s Pearmain grown around Maidstone in 19th century. Maidstone Favourite raised in early 20th century by G Bunyard, nurseryman of Maidstone. Michaelmas Red / Tydeman’s Michaelmas Red, Tydeman’s Early / Tydeman’s Early Worcesterraised in 1929 by HM Tydeman at East Malling Research Station. Polly Prosser raised by JH Cooper in Maidstone in 1946. Red Devil raised in 1975 by HF Ermen of Faversham. Robin Pippin from R&B Wickham of Gate House Farm, Brenchley in 1951. South Park raised by W Barkway, a gardener at South Park, Penshurst in about 1940. St Alban’s Pippin grown around Brenchely in the 19th century. Sunset raised in about 1918 by GC Addy of Igtham. Suntan raised in 1956 by HM Tydeman of EMRS. Tydeman’s Late Orange raised by HM Tydeman at EMRS in 1930.

Cooking Apples
Beauty of Kent from 18th century, one of the most popular cooking apples in late Victorian times because of its large size, but considered ‘too ugly for present-day commercial use’! Skin pale greenish-yellow flushed, speckled and striped with red, tender flesh, very juicy and deliciously perfumed, it cooks to pretty lemon-coloured slices. Bountiful raised by Dr Alston at EMRS in 1964. Bow Hill Pippin raised by A S White of Bow Hill, Maidstone, introduced by G Bunyard, a local nursery in 1893. Castle Major from Kent, may be 19th century. Faversham Creek found by H Ermen in the 1970s growing by Faversham Creek, copes with salt water. Foster’s Seedling introduced in about 1893 by G Bunyard, nurseryman of Maidstone. Gooseberry Apple recorded in 1831, grown in Kent for London Markets in 19th century. Grenadier origin unknown, recorded in 1862, exhibited by nurseryman Charles Turner of Slough but promoted later by nurseryman George Bunyard of Maidstone. Kentish Fillbasket. Maid of Kent from Marden 1979 from a 60 year old tree. Rossie Pippin from G Bunyard nursery, Maidstone, catalogued 1980. Smart’s Prince Arthur raised in 19th century by Mr Smart near Sittingbourne, grown around Maidstone for London markets in 19th century. Warner’s King is said to have originated in an orchard in Weavering Street, Maidstone and known in the 1700s as King Apple. Mr Warner, a small nurseryman of Gosforth, near Leeds, gave it to the wellknown nurseryman, Thomas Rivers of Sawbridgeworth, who renamed it Warner’s King.

Dual Purpose Apples
George Neal, best apple sauce variety, raised by Mrs Reeves of Otford in 1904. Introduced by R Neal & Sons of Wandsworth in 1923. Granny Giffard, from 19th century, raised by Mr Swinherd, Head Gardener to John Swinford of Minster near Margate.

Other Apples
Wanstall Pippin

Pears
Concorde, Michaelmas Nelis

Plums
Black Diamond, Farleigh Damson, Kentish Bush, Orpington Prolific.

Cherries
Bloors Heart, Frogmore Early, Nutberry Black, Kentish Red (culinary).

Hazelnuts
Cosford. Kentish Cob was either developed or introduced in early 1800s by Mr Lambert of Goudhurst, originally known as Lambert’s Filbert. White Filbert, very old variety, excellent flavour.

This list was compiled using many sources including The New Book of Apples by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards (Ebury Press 2002).

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