All About Hertfordshire
Full growing history
Until about forty years ago, the county’s close proximity by road and rail to London markets supported a vibrant orchard economy. The smallholding farming tradition within the county had created hundreds of small-scale orchards growing a wide range of different fruit, including many local varieties of cherry, plum, apple and pear. Cherry orchards, with their towering trees, were once a common site in the south west of the county on the outskirts of London. These orchards provided their owners with a steady income from July to October as the different fruits ripened, and many local people were engaged in the picking, processing and transportation of the orchard produce. The wholesale markets of London were the main market for the county’s fruit, aided by the excellent road, and later rail, network into the capital.Today, almost all of the county’s traditional small-scale orchards have disappeared due to a combination of rising production costs and an increase in the availability of cheaper imports. This has led to orchards being replaced by housing, industry and arable crops. Since the late 1990s the Hertfordshire Orchards Initiative has been highlighting the importance of retaining what remains of the county’s traditional orchards by promoting their value as landscape and wildlife features.
In 1725 Rivers Nursery was established by Thomas Rivers at Sawbridgeworth. Thomas, and successive generations of his family developed many new apple, plum, pear and cherry varieties and many of these are still popular today. For example, the plum Czar, the apple Rivers Early Peach, and Conference pear, which was introduced one hundred years before the nursery finally closed in 1985. Volunteers from the Rivers Heritage Site and Orchard group now manage what remains of the site.
Local fruit varieties
For a small county, Hertfordshire has a lot of local varieties, with 22 apples, 8 pears, 11 plums and 9 cherries having their origins there. Nearly 40 of these varieties were bred by Thomas Rivers. Its most famous variety is the Conference pear, still grown commercially and popular as a garden tree. The county also gave rise to several popular cooking apples, Warner’s King, Crimson Newton Wonder and Lane’s Prince Albert. There are a further 50 varieties considered lost.
Apples – dessert varieties
Brownlees Russet
Hemel Hempstead1848
Pick mid Oct. Use Dec – Mar
Pollination group C
Introduced by William Brownlees of Hemel Hempstead. A medium sized russet with a faint brownish flush. Tree has attractive blossom. A fruity, crisp apple. Has good resistance to scab, canker and mildew. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another apple tree to pollinate it.
Dawn
Ware Park 1940
Pick late Oct. Use Nov – Jan/Mar
Pollination group C
Believed to have been raised by Mr. Staward, Head Gardener at Ware Park Gardens. A medium sized golden coloured apple with a dull dark red flush. Slightly sharp in flavour.
Fairie Queen
Ware Park 1937
Pick mid Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
Believed to have been raised by Mr. Staward, Head Gardener at Ware Park Gardens. A very Cox-like medium sized apple with much of the variety’s flavour and appearance.
Gavin
Bayfordbury 1956
Pick early Oct. Use Oct – Dec
Pollination group D
Raised by Gavin Brown at the John Innes Institute at Bayfordbury, by crossing Merton Worcester and a scab-resistant variety (Jonathan x Malus floribunda x Rome Beauty). A medium sized apple, Cox-like in appearance and with a sweet, rich, juicy flesh. Has good resistance to scab, canker and mildew.
Hitchin Pippin
Hitchin 1896
Pick early Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
Originated in North Hertfordshire around Hitchin. Of unknown parentage. Tallish with an orange flush and broken red stripes. Flavour like an early-ripening King of the Pippins, which it slightly resembles.
Prince Edward
Sawbridgeworth 1897
Pick late Oct. Use Oct – Dec/Jan
Pollination group C
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. Believed to be a Cellini x Cox’s Pomona cross. A medium sized flat-round greenish coloured apple with a few stripes of red and an occasional orange flush. Greasy skinned and slightly sharp in flavour.
Rivers Early Peach
Sawbridgeworth 1893
Pick and use early Aug
Pollination group B
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. A medium sized yellow apple with a slight reddish flush. Coarse, dry, sweet flesh with a flavour reminiscent of peaches. Best eaten within a day or so after picking.
Rivers Nonsuch
Sawbridgeworth mid 1800s
Pick mid Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. Sometimes used as an apple rootstock. A tall, yellow apple with red stripes and a rich fruity flesh.
Rivers St. Martins
Sawbridgeworth pre1896
Pick early Oct. Use Oct – Dec
Pollination group D
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery before 1896. A medium sized maroon coloured apple. Flavour is very juicy and sweet with a hint of lemons.
Voyager
Barnet 1952
Pick mid Oct. Use Nov – Dec
Pollination group C
Raised by Mr. King of Barnet. Possibly a cross between Laxton’s Superb and Monarch. A medium sized slightly acidic tasting apple.
Young’s Pinello
Letchworth 1935
Pick mid Oct. Use Nov – Dec/Jan
Pollination group C
Raised by Miss Eva Young at Letchworth. A medium sized pale yellow skinned apple with a scarlet flush and stripes. Firm, aromatic, sweet tasting flesh.
Apples – dual purpose varieties
Aldenham Blenheim
Aldenham pre1929
Pick late Sept. Use Oct – Jan
Pollination group D
A more highly coloured version of Blenheim Orange, discovered at Aldenham House by Head gardener Edwin Beckett. Similar in all other respects to Blenheim Orange. Use as a cooker when first picked then as an eater having been stored. It is a triploid variety so requires another two different apple varieties nearby for successful pollination.
Redcoat Grieve
Letchworth 1916
Pick mid Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
A scarlet coloured sport of James Grieve which is claimed to crop more heavily. Discovered at the orchards of Hal Jones in Letchworth and introduced by him in 1921. Juicy and refreshing flavour.
Staward’s Seedling
Ware Park pre1940
Pick late Sept. Use Oct – Nov
Pollination group C
Believed to have been raised by Richard Staward, Head Gardener at Ware Park Gardens. A large sized greenish yellow apple with scattered broken orange stripes. Mildly sharp in flavour.
Apples – culinary varieties
Bushey Grove
Bushey 1926
Pick mid Sept. Use Sept – Nov/Dec
Pollination group C
Raised by Mr. Good of Bushey Grove. Believed to be Essex Queen x Bismarck cross. Yellowish green with dull red stripes and flush. Greasy. Slightly acidic firm flesh.
Crimson Newton Wonder
Holwell 1921
Pick mid Oct. Use Nov – Mar
Pollination group D
Arose at Bury Fruit Farm, owned by Mr. Dicker. A more highly coloured ‘sport’ of the variety Newton Wonder (Derbyshire c.1870). Almost totally flushed and striped with carmine. Can be large in size. Firm, slightly acidic flesh. Has good resistance to scab and canker. 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.
Hormead Pearmain
Hormead 1826
Pick late Oct. Use Nov – Mar
Pollination group C
Probably arose at Hormead. A large dull yellow apple with an occasional slight orange flush and some russeting. The flesh is quite coarse and slightly acidic.
Lane’s Prince Albert
Berkhamsted 1841
Pick mid Oct. Use Nov – Mar
Pollination group D
Raised by Thomas Squire of Berkhamsted. Believed to be a Nonpareil x Dumelow’s Seedling cross. Introduced in about 1850 by John Lane, nurseryman of Berkhamsted to mark a visit by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria to the town. A medium sized shiny light green skinned apple with a warm orange flush and occasional red broken stripes. Not very acidic when cooked. Has good resistance to scab and canker. 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.
New Hawthornden
Sawbridgeworth 1847
Pick late Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. A yellowish green apple with no stripes but is often flushed dull pink. Firm flesh which is quite acidic.
Thomas Rivers
Sawbridgeworth 1892
Pick early Sept. Use Sept – Oct/Nov
Pollination group D
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery as a seedling of the variety American Mother. Originally called Rivers’ Codlin’ when introduced in 1894 but renamed in 1897. Irregular shape and ribbed on body. Yellow in colour with a dull red flush and some faint stripes. Cooks like a codlin, creating a sharp, acidic puree.
Warner’s King
Place of origin unknown 1700s
Pick late Sept. Use Sept – Dec
Pollination group B
Sent to Rivers’ Nursery as King Apple by Mr. Warner, and may be the same variety as Killick’s Apple which was known previously in Kent. Rivers’ introduced the apple in the late 1800s. A medium to large yellowish green apple. Cooks to a pleasant acidic puree. It is a triploid variety so requires another two different apple varieties nearby for successful pollination.
Apples – crab apple varieties
Aldenham Purple
Aldenham 1920
Pick mid/late Oct.
Pollination group C
Arose as a chance seedling in the garden of Aldenham House near Elstree, home of Hon. Vicary Gibbs. Can flower twice a year with a profusion of large, decorative carmine flowers which grow into inch sized purple fruits. A self-fertile variety ideal as a pollinator for other apple trees and for making crab apple jelly. Also known as malus x purpurea aldenhamensis.
Pears – dessert varieties
Beacon
Sawbridgeworth 1881
Pick early/mid Aug. Use Aug
Pollination group C
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. One parent is the variety Calabasse Grosse. Introduced in 1927. A medium sized yellowish green conical shaped dessert pear with a dull red flush and some patchy russet. Flesh tender and juicy.
Conference
Sawbridgeworth 1885
Pick late Sept. Use Oct – Nov
Pollination group C
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. One parent is the variety Leon leClerc de Laval. Introduced in 1885 and named after the Apple and Pear Conference held that year in London. Medium to large in size. Yellowish green in colour with varying amounts of patchy golden russet. A good pear to store. Pale yellow sweet flesh. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another pear tree to pollinate it.
Fertility
Sawbridgeworth 1875
Pick mid Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. One parent is the variety Beurre Goubault. A medium sized dessert pear covered with a delicate cinnamon russet. Flavour like Williams Bon Chretien but more aromatic.
Magnate
Sawbridgeworth 1882
Pick late Sept. Use Oct – Nov
Pollination group C
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. One parent is the variety Louise Bonne de Jersey. A medium sized yellow skinned dessert pear flushed with pinky orange. The flesh is sweet and gritty.
Parrot
Sawbridgeworth 1895
Pick mid Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group C
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. A small, conical, yellowish coloured dessert pear that sometimes has a brownish pink flush and some patchy golden russet. Skin covered in numerous russet dots. Juicy white flesh. 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 nearby will help cropping.
Princess
Sawbridgeworth 1875
Pick late Oct. Use Nov – Dec
Pollination group B
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. One parent is the variety Louise Bonne de Jersey. A large, conical, yellow dessert pear covered with brown russet dots and some patchy russet. Sometimes has an orange flush to skin. Flesh is buttery and sweet.
St. Luke
Sawbridgeworth 1897
Pick mid Sept. Use Sept – Oct
Pollination group D
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. Parentage not known. A short, conical, yellow dessert pear almost totally covered with a brownish grey russet with a rough skin covered in russet dots. Flesh is juicy but a little gritty.
Summer Beurre
Sawbridgeworth 1863
Pick late Aug/early Sept. Use Sept
Pollination group C
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery. One parent is the variety Beurre d’Arenburg. A medium sized conical dessert pear. Greenish yellow in colour with varying amounts of patchy golden russet. Flesh is fine and very sweet
Plums – dessert varieties
Early Transparent Gage
Sawbridgeworth 1869
Pick and use early/mid Aug
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery from the variety Transparent Gage. Introduced 1873. Received RHS award 1898. Very similar to the Green Gage. Medium to large in size, greenish yellow and occasionally mottled crimson on the sun side. Very juicy and sweet. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Golden Transparent
Sawbridgeworth 1890
Pick and use early/mid Sept
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery from the variety Transparent Gage. Introduced 1890. Received RHS award in 1893. A medium to large roundish yellow skinned dessert plum with a thin chalky bloom. Has a gage-like flavour. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Late Transparent Gage
Sawbridgeworth 1882
Pick and use late Sept
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery. Parentage unknown. Introduced 1885. Received RHS award in 1892. A medium-sized smooth skinned yellow sweet gage. Flesh is golden yellow and juicy.
Mallard
Sawbridgeworth 1885
Pick and use mid/late Aug
Pollination group B
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery of unknown parentage. Introduced 1895. A medium sized, oval-oblong red skinned plum with a chalky bloom.
Plums – dual purpose varieties
Blue Rock
Sawbridgeworth 1880s
Pick and use mid/late Aug
Pollination group A
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery of unknown parentage. A medium sized dual use roundish blue-black plum with a bloom. 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.
Early Favourite
Sawbridgeworth 1834
Pick and use late July
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery. A medium sized almost black plum with russet dots and a thin chalky bloom. Greenish yellow, sweet juicy 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.
President
Sawbridgeworth 1895
Pick and use mid/late Sept
Pollination group B
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery of unknown parentage. Received RHS awards in 1895 and 1900. Introduced in 1901. A large, oval, blue-black variety. A useful plum for drying.
Primate
Sawbridgeworth 1889
Pick and use mid/late Sept
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery. Parentage unknown. Received RHS award in 1895. Introduced in 1897. A large, round red plum. A shy cropper.
Plums – culinary varieties
Archduke
Sawbridgeworth 1881
Pick and use mid Sept
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery. One parent is the variety De Montfort. Introduced 1883. A large blue-black coloured culinary plum with a thin bloom. A useful garden variety.
Automne Compote
Sawbridgeworth 1840
Pick and use early/mid Sept
Pollination group C
Raised by Rivers’ Nursery from the variety Cooper’s Black. Introduced 1840. Large, oval and bright red in colour with tender juicy well-flavoured flesh. A useful culinary variety.
Bittern
Sawbridgeworth 1872
Pick and use early/mid Aug
Pollination group A
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery. Parentage not known. Introduced in 1885/86. A medium sized long, oval blue-black culinary plum with a chalky bloom. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Blue Prolific
Sawbridgeworth c.1865
Pick and use late Aug/early Sept
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery. Introduced 1875. Parentage not known. A small blue-black skinned variety with coarse, juicy flesh.
Curlew
Sawbridgeworth 1875
Pick and use mid Aug
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery of unknown parentage. Introduced 1885/86. A medium to large, blue-black oval culinary plum. 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.
Czar
Sawbridgeworth 1871
Pick and use early/mid Aug
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery by crossing the varieties Prince Englebert and Early Rivers and named after the Emperor of Russia, who visited England in 1874. Introduced in 1875. Medium to large, purplish red with a thin chalky bloom. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Damson Early Rivers
Sawbridgeworth 1871
Pick and use mid Aug
Pollination group C
Raised from a seed of the variety St. Etienne plum by Rivers’ Nursery. Introduced 1871. Received RHS award in 1900. Small, round and blue–black with a thin chalky bloom. Resembles a bullace and can be very heavy cropping.
Early Rivers
Sawbridgeworth c.1820
Pick and use late July/early Aug
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery from the variety Precoce de Tours. Also known by its synonym ‘Early Rivers Prolific’. Introduced 1834. Received RHS award in 1895. A medium sized, round, blue-black plum with a thin chalky bloom. Heavy cropping and very hardy with yellow, sweet juicy 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.
Grand Duke
Sawbridgeworth 1876
Pick and use mid/late Sept
Pollination group A
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery from the variety Autumn Compote. Introduced 1876. Received RHS award 1880. A large, blue-black oval culinary plum with a bloom. Flesh is golden yellow and juicy. 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.
Heron
Sawbridgeworth 1875
Pick and use early/mid Aug
Pollination group B
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery of unknown parentage. Introduced 1885/86. A large, oval shaped culinary plum. Purple in colour. A reliable heavy cropper.
Late Orange
Sawbridgeworth 1888
Pick and use early/mid Sept
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery. Parentage not known. Received RHS award in 1892. Introduced c.1897. A large yellow round culinary plum with coarse flesh. Not a heavy cropper.
Monarch
Sawbridgeworth 1883
Pick and use early/mid Sept
Pollination group B
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery from the variety Autumn Compote. Introduced 1885. Received RHS award in 1894. A large, roundish, blue black culinary plum with a chalky bloom. It is self-fertile so will set fruit without the need of another plum tree to pollinate it.
Stint
Sawbridgeworth 1875
Pick and use late July/early Aug
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery. Parentage unknown. Introduced c.1885. A medium to small, round, red, early culinary plum with a thin chalky bloom. 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.
Swan
Sawbridgeworth 1885
Pick and use mid Aug
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery of unknown parentage. Introduced 1897. A medium to large sized oval, red-purple coloured culinary plum with a thick chalky bloom.
Cherries – dessert varieties
Alba Heart
Place of origin unknown pre1900
Pick and use mid/late July
Pollination group D
Also grown in neighbouring Buckinghamshire. A small, round, shiny black cherry with a good flavour.
Archduke
Sawbridgeworth pre1750
Pick and use mid/late July
Pollination group D
Rivers’ Nursery had grown it for at least 100 years by 1847 and the variety was known to John Parkinson in the 1600s. A large almost black purple plum with a long stalk and deep red tender, juicy sweet flesh.
Bailey’s Early Black
Leaverstock Green pre1930
Pick and use early July
Pollination group B
First recorded in the 1930s at Bailey’s Farm, Leaverstock Green. Considered an established local variety at the time. A medium sized black skinned and dark red fleshed sweet cherry.
Caroon
Geddeston 1725
Pick and use mid/late July
Pollination group F
Recorded at Geddeston in 1725. Also known by its synonym ‘Hertfordshire Black’. A medium sized, roundish, deep shiny black plum with a slender stalk and dark purple sweet, firm flesh.
Early Rivers
Sawbridgeworth pre1869
Pick and use June-July
Pollination group A
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery sometime before 1869. Introduced in 1872. A large to very large red skinned and red fleshed sweet dessert cherry. Will crop in June given warm weather.
Peggy Rivers
Sawbridgeworth 1922
Pick and use late July
Pollination group C
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery sometime before 1922. Introduced in 1925. A seedling from the variety Gros Coeuret. A medium sized pale red skinned sweet dessert cherry.
Strawberry Heart
King’s Langley pre1900
Pick and use mid/late July
Pollination group C
Grown in the King’s Langley district. Almost completely coloured bright red with some darker red streaks. Size can be large. Flesh is yellowish and juicy.
Turkish Black
Place of origin unknown pre1900
Pick and use mid/late July
Pollination group E
A medium sized fruit with fairly shiny and quite black skin. Flesh is very dark red and quite juicy.
Ursula Rivers
Sawbridgeworth 1921
Pick and use early July
Pollination group B
Raised at Rivers’ Nursery sometime before 1921. Introduced in 1925. A seedling from the variety Emperor Francis. A large juicy, black skinned and heavy cropping sweet dessert cherry.
Lost fruit varieties
There are around 50 named apple varieties documented as having Hertfordshire origins. Some of these ‘lost’ varieties 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? Please let us know if you do.
Amwell
Arthur Tite
Exhibited 1898. Raised by Charles Seden. Kerry Pippin x King of the Pippins. Size: small. Shape: conical. Skin: yellow, flushed with red.
Bengeo
Darulla
Exhibited 1940. Season: very late.
Berkhamsted
Glory of the West
Exhibited by John Lane, nurseryman, in 1883. Size: medium. Shape: conic. Skin: yellow flushed. Flesh: soft. Flavour: acidic. Season: early.
First and Last
Exhibited by John Lane, nurseryman, in 1883. Size: medium. Shape: regular, convex and ribbed. Skin: pale yellow. Flesh: soft. Season: early.
Mrs. Parrott
Exhibited by John Lane, nurseryman, in 1883. Size: medium. Shape: rectangular, ribbed and convex. Skin: green flushed red. Flesh: firm. Flavour: acidic. Season: late.
Lane’s Prolific
Exhibited by John Lane, nurseryman, in 1883. Size: medium. Shape: intermediate. Skin: green occasionally flushed with red. Flesh: fine. Flavour: slightly acidic. Season: mid.
Lane’s Oaklands Seedling
Raised by John Lane in 1878. RHS award 1894. Last recorded 1934. Size: large. Shape: regular, convex. Skin: greenish yellow with russet. Flavour: sweet. Season: mid to very late.
Cheshunt
Cheshunt Pippin
Raised at Paul’s Nurseries and exhibited 1864. Last recorded 1895. Size: medium. Shape: flat. Skin: white, streaked with red. Flesh: soft. Season: mid.
Winter Hawthornden
Known to nurseryman George Paul of Cheshunt in 1862. Size: large. Shape: flat-round, slightly ribbed. Skin: yellow, flushed and streaked with red. Flesh: firm. Flavour: acidic. Season: mid to late.
Prince Lippo
Exhibited 1883. Size: small. Shape: flat. Skin: streaked red. Season: mid.
Summer Strawberry
Exhibited 1883. Size: large. Shape: intermediate and ribbed. Skin: red streaked. Flesh: firm. Season: mid.
Captain Sanders
Exhibited by Paul’s Nursery 1895. Season: mid.
Hatfield
Shooting Star
Exhibited 1948. Season: mid.
Hemel Hempstead
Scott’s Prolific
Exhibited 1896. Considered like Beauty of Kent. Season: very late
Letchworth
Smiling Morn
Introduced by Hal Jones in 1934. In existence 1946. Size: medium: Shape: regular, convex. Skin: yellow with a heavy red flush and netted russet. Flesh: creamy. Season: mid.
Wilbury Pippin
Introduced by Hall Jones in the early 1900s. No description.
Rickmansworth
Flemish Beauty
Exhibited 1883. Size: medium. Shape: flat. Skin: green with russet and flushed bright red. Flesh: very firm. Season: late.
Royston
Illingworth Surprise
Exhibited 1946. Season: mid.
Sawbridgeworth
Bailey’s Sweet
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: large. Shape: ribbed and regular. Skin: striped red. Flavour: sweet. Season: early.
Calville Vineux
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: medium. Shape: tall and ribbed. Skin: pale yellow. Flesh: firm. Flavour: sweet. Season: mid.
Hertford Sweet
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: medium. Shape: regular. Skin: green. Flavour: sweet. Season: late.
Jersey Pippin
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: small. Shape: rectangular. Skin: russeted. Flavour: sweet. Season: mid.
Hunt’s Royal Nonpareil
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883 but first described in 1851. Size: small. Shape: convex and rectangular. Skin: russet, yellowish green, some flush. Flavour: sweet and rich. Season: late.
Mango Pippin
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: medium. Shape: medium, convex. Skin: green streaked with red. Flesh: soft. Season: late.
Maynack’s Pippin
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: medium. Shape: conical. Skin: yellow. Flesh: soft. Season: early.
Monmouth Pippin
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: small. Shape: flat. Skin: green. Flesh: hard.
Old Winter Russet
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: medium. Shape: intermediate, ribbed and rectangular. Skin: red with russet. Flavour: acidic. Season: mid.
Rambour Pepelin
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: medium. Shape: tall. Skin: green with some flush. Flavour: acidic. Season: mid.
Reinette D’Ore
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: medium. Shape: intermediate, rectangular. Skin: green. Season: late.
Sarah Sinoy
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: medium. Shape: intermediate, rectangular, convex. Skin: greenish yellow with a flush. Flesh: firm. Flavour: acidic. Season: mid.
Rushout
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: small. Shape: intermediate, rectangular, convex. Skin: yellowish green. Flesh: dry. Season: late.
Reinette Roequin
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: medium. Shape: flat. Skin: yellow with russet. Flavour: sweet. Season: late.
Red Russet
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. Size: large. Shape: rectangular, convex. Skin: red russet. Season: mid.
Pommes de Paques
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1883. In existence 1884. Size: medium. Shape: conical. Skin: streaked yellow russet. Flavour: acidic. Season: mid.
Bijou
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1909. Size: small. Shape: intermediate, rectangular, convex. Skin: red. Flesh: dry. Season: early to very late.
Brook’s Hill Pippin
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1896. Shape: tall and conical. Skin: yellow streaked red. Season: late.
Sir Walter
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1896. Size: large. Shape: regular. Skin: pale green with some rough russet. Flavour: slightly acidic. Season: late.
Carmenal
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1897. Shape: flat. Skin: striped at base.
Early Rivers
Introduced by Rivers’ Nursery 1893. Last recorded 1934. Size: large. Shape: flat to tall sometimes ribbed. Skin: pale yellow with lots of dots. Greasy. Flesh: white. Flavour: slightly acidic. Season: second early.
Reinette Rambour de Melcher
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1888. Size: large. Shape: regular. Skin: pale yellow. Flesh: firm. Season: late.
Marshall’s Seedling
Exhibited by Rivers’ Nursery 1888. Last recorded 1936. Size: medium. Shape: conical. Skin: bright yellow flushed and streaked with crimson. Flesh: white tinged red. Flavour: sweet. Season: mid to late.
Marden Hill Seedling
In existence 1883. Only record. Season: mid.
St. Albans
John Clements
Exhibited 1945. Season: mid.
Waltham Cross
Harold Pippin
Exhibited 1883 by Paul’s Nursery. Size: small. Shape: intermediate, convex. Skin: red streaked.
Waltham Cross
Exhibited 1888 by Paul’s Nursery. First described in 1883. Size: medium. Shape: flat. Skin: greenish yellow streaked red. Flavour: sweet.
Waltham Pippin
Recorded 1888. No description.
Welwyn
Santa Rosa
Exhibited 1931. Season: mid.
William Darby
Exhibited 1950. Season: mid.
Hertfordshire – place of origin unknown
Ajax
In existence 1940. Season: very late.
Flower of Herts
Recorded 1862. In existence 1895. Size: large. Shape: regular. Skin: light green with crimson stripes. Flesh: soft and greenish white. Flavour: slightly acidic. Season: mid to late.
Phipp’s Wonder
Exhibited 1901. Season: very late.
Smith’s Early
Exhibited 1907. Season: early.
Wilson’s Endeavour
Exhibited 1934. In existence 1946. Size: medium. Shape: tall, conical. Skin: pale green streaked scarlet. Light russet dots. Season: late to very late.
Community orchards
These can range in size from just a dozen trees to more than a hundred and they are usually on sites open to the public all year round. They can include plantings of local fruit varieties, some with historic associations with the location, and most are managed primarily for their public amenity value and for the benefit of local wildlife. For more details contact the Parish/Town/City Councils.
Abbott’s Langley
Aldenham
Bishops Stortford
Bushey
Chorleywood
Codicote
Croxley Green
Great Wymondley
Harpenden
Hatfield
Hemel Hempstead
Hertford
Hertford Heath
Leavesdon
Letchworth Garden City
Northaw
Preston
Sawbridgeworth
Shenley
St. Albans Highfield Park
St. Albans Hixberry Lane
Welwyn
Welwyn Garden City
Wheathampstead
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.
Centenary Orchard
St. Albans Museum, AL3 4SW
01727 819340
Situated in Hatfield Road, to celebrate the museum’s centenary. Contains eight local varieties
Open all year. Free entry. www.st.albansmuseums.org.uk
Heartwood Forest
St. Albans, AL4 9DQ
0330 333 3300
England’s largest new native woodland established since 2008, includes an orchard containing 600 fruit trees including many Hertfordshire varieties. The orchard contains apple, pear, quince, apricot, plum, medlar, fig and cherry.
Open all year. Free entry.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/wood-information/heartwood-forest/
Highfield Park Orchard
St. Albans, AL4 0RA
01727 847242
Situated on the south-eastern side of the city, this major new public space includes some old orchards.
Open all year. Free entry. www.highfieldparktrust.org.uk
Rivers Heritage Site and Orchard
Sawbridgeworth,
01279 724537
The remains of the Rivers Nursery, which closed in 1985 after 250 years trading. Some trees are yet to be identified but there are many local varieties. The orchard is cared for by a group of volunteers, the Rivers Heritage Site and Orchard (RHSO) under the aegis of the Town Council.
Holds an Apple Day every year.
Open all year. Free entry. https://www.rhso.co.uk
The Stanley Lord Orchard
Shenley Park, WD7 9DW
01923 852629
Around 400 trees of more than 90 different varieties planted in 1950s. Cared for by a Trust and open for walks and picnics.
Open all year. Free entry. www.shenleypark.co.uk
Tewin Orchard Nature Reserve
Tewin, AL6 0LX
01438 798324
A reserve managed by Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust which includes a former commercial apple orchard and a newer mixed orchard planted after 2000. Both contain mainly local varieties. Holds an Apple Day every autumn.
Open all year. Free entry www.tewinorchard.co.uk
Local producers
Church Farm
Ardeley, SG2 7AH
01438 861447
Growers of a range of local variety apple, pear, plum and also walnuts.
Available through their farm box scheme or from farm shop when in season.
Open all year. www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk