All About Bedfordshire
Full growing history
Bedfordshire has never had a great many large-scale commercial orchards due to its unsuitable heavy clay soils. However, in the early twentieth century, sizeable orchards of Cox’s Orange Pippin trees were planted around Cockayne Hatley near Potton, but this scheme eventually proved unprofitable and was grubbed up after less than fifty years.Historically, the county’s orchards were small scale, operated by smallholders and market gardeners who sold their fruit to mainly local wholesale markets. In the Chiltern hills, in the south west of the county bordering Buckinghamshire, damson and plum orchards were a traditional landscape feature, the fruit being sent to local markets and London by road and rail. Ducks and geese were also kept in these orchards and occasionally sheep. Today, orchards are a rare sight in the county because in the last fifty years most have been lost to creeping urbanisation, lie neglected or have been replaced by arable crops.
However, there’s an impressive list of orchard varieties from Bedfordshire, due mainly to the fruit breeding programmes undertaken by successive generations of the Laxton family at their Bedford nursery. Thomas Laxton founded his business in Bedford in 1888, having run a successful nursery in Stamford since the 1850s. He was a pioneer of early plant breeding techniques and created numerous new improved varieties of roses, soft fruits and other vegetables. Fruit breeding of apples, pears and plums took off in the 1890s under the stewardship of his sons Thomas and Edward. Their apples Lord Lambourne, Laxton’s Fortune and Laxton’s Superb went on to be three of the most widely planted dessert varieties in the UK. The business finally closed in 1957 although the ‘Laxton’s’ brand name was used for a few years afterwards by Wood & Ingram’s nursery at Huntingdon. Laxtons’ vast Bedford nursery site was redeveloped to meet the town’s post war housing needs.
Local fruit varieties
There are 28 apples whose origins lie in the county, almost all of which were bred by Laxton Bros. of Bedford. The same can be said of the 9 pear and 11 plum varieties from the county. There are a further 21 lost named varieties known only from historic records. Without the Laxton family business there would have been less than half a dozen Bedfordshire orchard fruit varieties.
Apples – dessert varieties
Ballard Beauty
Bedford 1946
Pick late Oct. Use Oct – Dec
Pollination group C
Raised by Mr. A. Norman in Bedford. A Cox’s Orange seedling. A medium to large greenish yellow skinned apple flushed with scarlet. Firm and slightly acidic flesh. A useful long keeping dessert apple.
Beauty of Bedford
Bedford 1913
Pick mid Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group D
Raised by Laxton Bros. A cross of Lady Sudeley x Beauty of Bath. A tall medium sized apple with a ribbed body. Greenish yellow with an orange flush. Firm and sweet flesh.
Bedford Pippin
Bedford pre1900
Pick late Aug. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. A cross of King of the Pippins x Ribston Pippin. Yellow skinned, flushed dull orange and with some russet and faint red stripes. Nutty, sweet flesh.
Duchess of Bedford
Bedford 1918
Pick Aug. Use mid/late Aug
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. A cross of Cellini x Beauty of Bath. Yellowish-green skin flushed dark orange with some stripes. Greasy skinned. Sweet, aniseed-like tasting flesh.
Laxton’s Advance
Bedford 1908
Pick and use mid/late Aug
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced 1929. A cross of Cox’s Orange Pippin x Gladstone. Yellowish skinned with a reddish-brown flush and broken red stripes. Sweet and aromatic flesh.
Laxton’s Early Crimson
Bedford 1931
Pick and use early Aug
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1931. A cross of Worcester Pearmain x Gladstone. A small to medium sized apple with a dull green skin almost completely flushed brownish purple. The flesh is coarse and sweet.
Laxton’s Epicure
Bedford 1909
Pick late Aug. Use Aug – Sept
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in the late 1920s. A cross of Worcester Pearmain x Wealthy. Greenish-yellow skin flushed orange brown and streaked with red. Long stalked. Fine, crisp, sweet flesh. It is partially self-fertile so will set some fruit by itself. Having another same or different apple variety with the same or adjacent pollination group nearby will help cropping.
Laxton’s Exquisite
Bedford 1902
Pick late Aug. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in the 1920s. A cross of Cox’s Orange Pippin x Cellini. Medium to large sized. Orange flushed and striped yellow skin. Some russet. Sweet and slightly aromatic flesh. It is partially self-fertile so will set some fruit by itself. Having another same or different apple variety with the same or adjacent pollination group nearby will help cropping.
Laxton’s Favourite
Bedford 1925
Pick late Aug. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1951. A cross of Cox’s Orange Pippin x Laxton’s Exquisite. Pale yellow skin almost totally flushed and streaked with orange red. Coarse, crisp, sweet flesh.
Laxton’s Fortune
Bedford 1904
Pick early Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced 1931. A cross of Cox’s Orange Pippin x Wealthy. Pale yellow skin mottled and flushed with orange and red. Some russet. Sweet, firm and juicy flesh. Has good resistance to scab and mildew. It is partially self-fertile so will set some fruit by itself. Having another same or different apple variety with the same or adjacent pollination group nearby will help cropping.
Laxton’s Herald
Bedford 1906
Pick late Aug. Use Sept
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1939. A cross of Worcester Pearmain x Beauty of Bath. Yellow skinned flushed almost completely bright red with some darker red stripes. Worcester-like sweet and crisp flesh.
Laxton’s Leader
Bedford 1905
Pick and use early Aug
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced 1939. A cross of Worcester Pearmain x Gladstone. Greenish- yellow skin almost completely covered with a purple flush and a few broken stripes. Skin has a chalky ‘bloom’. Slightly acidic.
Laxton’s Pearmain
Bedford 1897
Pick mid Oct. Use Oct – Mar
Pollination group E
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1922. A cross of Wyken Pippin x Cox’s Orange Pippin. A long, pearmain-shaped, medium sized apple. With green skin flushed and striped deep red. Flesh is crisp, juicy and quite aromatic.
Laxton’s Peerless
Bedford 1900
Pick mid Sept. Use Sept – Nov
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1922. Parentage unknown. A large yellow skinned apple with quite a lot of scattered russet. Occasional red flush. Crisp, firm flesh with a little acidity.
Laxton’s Pioneer
Bedford 1934
Pick late Sept. Use Oct – Nov
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. Parentage unknown. A large slightly flattened yellow skinned apple almost completely covered with a dark carmine flush and stripes. Skin has a chalky ‘bloom’. Flesh is crisp and quite astringent.
Laxton’s Rearguard
Bedford 1907
Pick early Oct. Use Nov – Jan
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. A cross of Cox’s Orange Pippin x Court Pendu Plat. Medium sized with a greenish skin mottled brown and with an occasional red flush. Usually some russet present. Crisp, juicy, aromatic flesh.
Laxton’s Reward
Bedford 1925
Pick early Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group D
Raised by Laxton Bros. A Laxton’s Epicure cross. Greenish yellow skinned streaked and flushed dark red. Firm, crisp sweet flesh.
Laxton’s Royalty
Bedford 1908
Pick late Oct. Use Jan – Mar
Pollination group F
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1932. A cross of Cox’s Orange Pippin x Court Pendu Plat. Pale greenish-yellow skin with a dull red flush and darker red stripes. Has some russet on top and base. Firm and slightly aromatic flesh.
Laxton’s Superb
Bedford 1897
Pick mid Oct. Use Nov – Jan
Pollination group D
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1922. A cross of 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 good resistance to canker and mildew. It is partially self-fertile, so will set some fruit by itself. Having another same or different apple variety with the same or adjacent pollination group nearby will help cropping.
Laxton’s Triumph
Bedford 1902
Pick late Oct. Use Nov – Jan
Pollination group D
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1930. A cross of King of the Pippins x Cox’s Orange Pippin. A medium sized bright yellow-skinned, flushed and striped bright scarlet. Highly aromatic, juicy, firm flesh.
Laxton’s Victory
Bedford 1926
Pick early Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1925. A cross of Cox’s Orange Pippin x Laxton’s Exquisite. A medium sized yellowish skinned apple with a brownish flush and occasionally streaked with red. Sweet and aromatic flesh.
Lord Lambourne
Bedford 1907
Pick late Sept. Use Oct – Nov
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1923. A cross of James Grieve x Worcester Pearmain. A medium sized greenish gold skinned apple with a maroon flush and a few red broken stripes. Some russet. Very aromatic tasting. Has good resistance to mildew and is partially self-fertile, so will set some fruit by itself. Having another same or different apple variety with the same or adjacent pollination group nearby will help cropping.
Owen Thomas
Bedford 1897
Pick and use Aug
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced 1920. Parentage unknown. Named after Queen Victoria’s gardener. Greenish skinned flushed orange with scarlet stripes. Quite greasy. Aromatic, sweet juicy flesh.
Pam’s Delight
Luton 1956
Pick mid Oct. Use Oct – Nov
Pollination group C
Raised by Alfred Hull as a seedling and named after his late daughter. Some trees were propagated by Rivers Nursery in Hertfordshire for trial at the National Fruit Collection in Kent. A medium sized yellow skinned apple with a dull red flush and crisp, juicy, sweet flesh.
September Beauty
Bedford 1885
Pick mid Sept. Use Sept – Nov/Dec
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. Parentage unknown. A medium sized yellowish green apple mottled and striped with orange. Skin is greasy and slightly russeted. Sweet flesh.
Apples – dual purpose varieties
Neild’s Drooper
Woburn Park 1915
Pick mid Oct. Use Oct – Nov/Dec
Pollination group E
Arose at Woburn Park, where propagated from a scion labelled Calville Blanc d’Ete. However, the resulting tree has a pronounced weeping growth habit. A medium sized green skinned apple with a dull orange flush. Flesh is rich, sweet and complex.
Apples – culinary varieties
Bedfordshire Foundling
Place of origin unknown 1800
Pick early Oct. Use Oct – Dec/Mar
Pollination group C
A large flat-round yellow apple sometimes with a dull orange flush. Some russet patches. Coarse, firm acidic flesh. Keeps shape well when cooked.
Hambling’s Seedling
Dunstable 1894
Pick mid Oct. Use Nov – Jan/Mar
Pollination group D
Raised by William Hambling of Dunstable. A large yellow skinned apple with an occasional orange flush. Coarse, firm acidic flesh. Keeps shape well when cooked. It is a triploid variety so requires another two different apple varieties nearby for successful pollination.
Pears – dessert varieties
Beurre Bedford
Bedford 1902
Pick late Sept. Use early Oct/mid Nov
Pollination group D Raised by Laxton Bros. Nurseries, Bedford, by crossing the varieties Marie Louise x Durondeau. Introduced in 1921. A large, long conical, pale yellow pear with a bright orange-pink flush, russet dots and a general scattering of russet. Flesh is firm, aromatic and juicy.
Laxton’s Early Market
Bedford 1907
Pick late July/early Aug. Use Aug
Pollination group D
Raised by Laxton Bros. by crossing the varieties Marie-Louise x Doyenne Ete. A small to medium sized dessert pear. Introduced in 1927. Yellowish green with a dull reddish flush and some red broken stripes. Best picked shortly after picking.
Laxton’s Foremost
Bedford 1901
Pick late Aug. Use Aug – Sept
Pollination group D Raised by Laxton Bros. by crossing the varieties Marechal de la Cour x Fertility. Introduced 1939. A large, conical, yellow skinned pear sometimes with a reddish flush and a few red stripes. Flesh is buttery and sweet.
Laxton’s Harvester
Bedford 1932
Pick late Aug. Use early/mid Sept
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. Unknown parentage. Introduced 1934. Roundish to conical in shape and medium sized. Dull yellowish green with a pinkish-red flush, russet dots and thin russet. Soft, fine, juicy flesh.
Laxton’s Progress
Bedford 1933
Pick late Aug. Use early/mid Sept
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. by crossing the varieties Williams Bon Chretien x Marie Louise. Introduced 1933. Large sized, yellowish green with a pink flush. Flesh is yellow, spicy and sweet.
Laxton’s Record
Bedford c.1900
Pick Oct. Use Nov – Dec
Pollination group D
Raised by Laxton Bros. by crossing the varieties Marie-Louise and Doyenne du Comice. Introduced in 1936. A medium to large yellowish green pear flushed red and with some fine patchy russet. Flesh is soft and sweet. Tends to be lop-sided in shape.
Laxton’s Satisfaction
Bedford 1902
Pick early Sept. Use mid Sept
Pollination group D
Raised by Laxton Bros. by crossing the varieties Beurre Superfin x Williams Bon Chretien. Introduced in 1927. Received an RHS award 1927. Greenish yellow skinned but almost totally overlain with rough textured russet. Often lop-sided. Sweet firm flesh.
Laxton’s Superb
Bedford 1901
Pick mid Aug. Use late Aug
Pollination group D
Raised by Laxton Bros. by crossing the varieties Williams Bon Chretien x Beurre Superfin. Introduced 1913. Received an RHS award in 1956. Medium sized, yellowish green with an occasional dull red flush and broken stripes. Flesh is yellow, soft and sweet. It is partially self-fertile so will set some fruit by itself. Having another same or different pear variety with the same or adjacent pollination group will help cropping.
Laxton’s Victor
Bedford 1900
Pick late Sept. Use Oct – Nov
Pollination group D
Raised by Laxton Bros. by crossing the varieties Marie-Louise x Seckel. Introduced in 1933. A medium sized yellow pear with a red flush overlain with russet streaks and dots. Easily bruised and can be lop-sided. Flesh is tender, firm and sweet.
Plums – dessert varieties
Laxton’s Delicious
Bedford 1902
Pick and use mid/late Sept
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1924. A Pond’s Seedling x Coe’s Golden Drop cross. A large round-oval plum with a pinkish-red skin with a distinct lavender-blue bloom and many white dots. Flesh juicy and sweet.
Laxton’s Delight
Bedford 1913
Pick and use late Aug/early Sept
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1945. Parentage unknown. A large yellow oval plum with very juicy golden yellow flesh. It is partially self-fertile so will set some fruit by itself. Having another same or different plum variety with the same or adjacent pollination group nearby will help cropping.
Laxton’s Early Gage
Bedford pre1948
Pick and use mid Aug
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. before 1948. A Reine Claude de Bavay x Prune Peche cross. A large yellow skinned oval plum with a distinct bloom. Melting, juicy, yellow sweet flesh. Not an abundant cropper.
Laxton’s Gage
Bedford 1899
Pick and use mid/late Aug
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1922. A Green Gage x Victoria cross. A medium to large sized yellow round-oblong plum. Firm, rich, sweet flesh. Susceptible to silver leaf. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Laxton’s Goldfinch
Bedford 1906
Pick and use mid/late Aug
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1928. An Early Transparent Gage x Jefferson cross. A large yellow skinned plum, oval-round in shape and with firm yellow sweet flesh. It is partially self-fertile so will set some fruit by itself. Having another same or different plum variety with the same or adjacent pollination group nearby will help cropping.
Laxton’s Ideal
Bedford pre1937
Pick and use early/mid Sept
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. A Denniston’s Superb (probably Imperial Gage) x Coes’ Golden Drop cross. A medium sized oval yellow dessert plum. The flesh is firm and very juicy. A self-fertile quality plum which will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Utility
Bedford 1903
Pick and use early/mid Aug
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1910. A Jefferson x Peach (Prune Peche) cross. A medium to large sized oblong plum with a red skin. Very sweet and juicy. Resistant to bacterial canker and will crop heavily. It is partially self-fertile so will set some fruit by itself. Having another same or different plum variety with the same or adjacent pollination group nearby will help cropping.
Plums – dual purpose varieties
Early Laxton
Bedford 1902
Pick and use late July/early Aug
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1919. Believed to be Jaune Lative x Early Orleans cross. Small and oval in size with a yellow skin and pinkish blush. Juicy, golden yellow flesh. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Laxton’s Blue Tit
Bedford pre1931
Pick and use mid Aug
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1938. A Czar x Green Gage cross. A medium sized, round, with a blue skin and a heavy blue bloom. Very Juicy. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Laxton’s Jubilee
Bedford 1905
Pick and use late Aug/early Sept
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1936. A Victoria x Czar cross. A medium-large oval shaped blue-black plum with a chalky bloom. Not particularly sweet or juicy.
Laxton’s Supreme
Bedford 1904
Pick and use mid/late Aug
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1913. A Denniston’s Superb (probably Imperial Gage) x Victoria cross. A large yellow skinned oblong-oval plum. Often has a pink flush. Flesh is soft and sweet. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Olympia
Bedford 1904
Pick and use early/mid Sept
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1937. A Curlew x Early Rivers cross. A large, oval blue-black coloured plum. Has a thin bloom on its skin.
Plums – culinary varieties
Black Prince
Bedford 1905
Pick and use early/mid Aug
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in about 1930. Believed to be a Kentish Black x Damson Bradley’s King cross. Medium sized with a bluish-black skin and a light blue bloom. Oval shaped. A culinary variety with very acidic juicy flesh.
Bountiful
Bedford 1900
Pick and use mid Aug
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1926. A Victoria x Red Magnum Bonum cross. A medium to large sized, long-oval shaped plum with a pinkish-red skin with white dots and a fine bloom. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Laxton’s Blackird
Bedford pre1911
Pick and use mid/late Aug
Pollination group B
Raised by Laxton Bros. A Czar x Curlew cross. A medium to large oval shaped plum with a blue-black skin and with a bloom. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Laxton’s Cropper
Bedford 1906
Pick and use early/mid Sept
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1931. A Victoria x Aylesbury Prune cross. A large oval medium sized plum with a blue-black skin and bloom. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it
Laxton’s Prosperity
Bedford 1899
Pick and use mid/late Aug
Pollination group C
Raised by Laxton Bros. and introduced in 1910. A Grand Duke x Czar cross. A medium to large sized oval-oblong shaped blue-black coloured plum. Has a bloom. Flesh is firm and slightly acidic. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Lost fruit varieties
There are 21 named Bedfordshire apples that we know of from historical record, but which remain ‘lost’ varieties. Some of these apples were last recorded less than a century ago, so it’s quite likely that old trees still survive. Do you recognise any of these names? If so, please let us know.
Bedford
Bedfordshire Greening
Exhibited 1898 and last recorded in 1899. Skin: green flushed red. Season: mid.
Bedfordshire Seedling
Exhibited 1894. No description.
Bedford Scarlet
Raised by Laxton Bros. and exhibited 1898 and last recorded in 1904. Season: mid.
Clapham Beauty
Raised by Sheppard and exhibited 1896. Last recorded 1906. Size: medium. Shape: flat-round. Skin: greenish-yellow, streaked bright crimson. Flesh: very soft. Flavour: slightly acidic. Season: mid.
Harvest Queen
Raised by Laxton Bros. and exhibited in 1891. Season: early.
Laxton’s Aristocrat
Raised by Laxton Bros. and exhibited 1936. Season: second early.
Laxton’s Chieftain
Raised by Laxton Bros. and exhibited 1937. Season: mid.
Laxton’s Dictator
Raised by Laxton Bros. and exhibited 1937. Season: mid.
Laxton’s Imperial
Raised by Laxton Bros. and exhibited in 1907. Introduced in 1928. Allington Pippin x Cox’s Orange Pippin. Size: medium. Shape: flat, rectangular, sometimes slightly conical. Skin: yellow flushed orange with red stripes and a scattering of russet. Flesh: firm. Flavour: sweet, rich. Season: mid to late.
Laxton’s Jewel
Raised by Laxton Bros. and last recorded in 1937. Season: mid.
Laxton’s Premier
Raised by Laxton Bros. 1899. Introduced 1913. Last recorded in 1923. Gladstone x Worcester Pearmain. Size: medium. Shape: flat, convex. Skin: heavily striped red. Flesh: soft. Season: early.
Laxton’s Rover
Raised by Laxton Bros. and exhibited 1937. Season: mid.
Laxton’s Sensation
Raised by Laxton Bros. and exhibited 1934.
Laxton’s Victor
Raised by Laxton Bros. and exhibited 1926. Season: mid.
Lord Beatty
Raised by Laxton Bros. and exhibited 1919. Last recorded 1946. Cox’s Orange Pippin x Lady Sudeley. Shape: conical. Skin: greenish yellow flushed and striped orange red.
Ring Pippin
Exhibited in 1907. Grown in Bedfordshire. Skin: ringed with a transverse groove. Season: late.
Rufus
Raised by Laxton Bros. and first recorded in 1926. Last recorded in 1933. Season: early.
The Prince
Raised and introduced by Laxton Bros. and exhibited in 1934.
Wellhead Wonder
Exhibited 1948. Season: very late.
Dunstable
King of all Apples
Exhibited 1907. Season: very late.
Leighton Buzzard
Lindula Seedling
Raised c. 1865. Last recorded in 1895. Season: mid.
Community orchards
Bedford Queens Park
Bedford Park Wood
Biggleswade
Bromham
Clapham
Clifton
Colmworth
Dunstable
Felmersham
Fairfield Park
Harrold
Luton, Limbury Park
Luton, Peoples Park
Luton , Stockwood Park
Luton, Wigmore Valley Park
Oakley
Old Warden
Ravensden, Mowsbury Hill Fort
Risely
Pertenhall
Potton
Putnoe
Sharnbrook
Shefford
Sutton
Stotfold
Turvey
Orchards to visit
As well as the community orchards dotted around the county there are other sites, both old and new, where orchards containing local varieties can be seen.
Wrest Park
Silsoe, MK45 4HR
0370 333 1181
Extensive landscaped grounds undergoing restoration. Replanting has included examples of various local fruit varieties, as formally trained and free-standing trees.
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Moggerhanger Park
Moggerhanger, MK44 2RW
The ongoing restoration programme at this country house and extensive gardens has included planting a small new orchard of local cultivars. Check website for opening times.
Admission fee.
www.moggerhangerpark.com