Orchards, Trees & Orchard Produce

Some Cambridgeshire Fruit

Dessert Apples
Chivers Delight ‘Well-known for its good nature and excellent flavour’, raised by John Chivers at Histon, north of Cambridge around 1920. Cockett’s Red / Marguerite Henrietta / One Bite from 1910 or earlier, once grown around Wisbech, used by toffee apple manufacturers. Haggerstone Pippin raised around 1805 by Mr Haggerstone in Cambridge (lost). Histon Favourite raised by John Chivers of Histon in mid 19th century and widely grown later in the century aound the county. Lady Hollendale grown in East Angia for Wisbech markets in 1920s and 30s. Lord Peckover From Peckover House gardens in Wisbech before 1926. New Rock Pippin raised by William Pleasance at Barnwell, Cambridge, exhibited 1821. Red Ellison found in Fenland orchards of Harold Selby at Walpole St Peter, Wisbech. St Everard raised by C Terry, the head gardener of Papworth Everard Hall near Cambridge before 1900. Thoday’s Quarrenden discovered in 1949 by Ralph Thoday at Reedground Farm, Willingham, Cambridge. Wayside, a seedling of Charles Ross from the garden of Miss Cunningham’s house, Wayside on Huntingdon Road, Cambridge in 1930.

Cooking Apples
Cottenham Seedling raised in 1923 at Cottenham, once popular around Cambridge. Emneth Early / Early Victoria raised by William Lynn of Elmeth, recorded 1899. Once grown around Wisbech for jam production. Murfitt’s Seedling dates from 1883, probably introduced by nurserymen Wood and Ingram of Huntingdon. Once popular in Cottenham and Histon. Red Victoria found near Wisbech around 1884.

Dual Purpose Apples
Green Harvey recorded 1930 from WG Kent in Wisbech, but may be from 1813. Hunter’s Majestic raised before 1914 by Miss E Balding of Upwell near Wisbech.

Other Apples
Jolly Miller may have been rediscovered in a roadside survey by the East of England Apples & Orchards Project in 2005.

Plums
Cambridge Gage probably seedling of Green Gage. Willingham Gage probably a seedling of Green Gage from Willingham in 19th century.

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).

Contact the East of England Apples and Orchards Project for more information and names of Cambridgeshire’s ‘lost’ varieties - call +44(0)1328 838403 or visit their web-site.

Please get in touch with any additions or corrections