The first bite

We know apples were gathered in Europe in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, but these wouldn’t have have borne much of a resemblance to the fruit we think of as apples today. Archaeology suggests that they were smaller, more in line with the Malus sylvestris breed: what we think of today as a crab apple. This scientific name translates as ‘forest apple’, and far from the sweeter taste we enjoy, we can imagine that they would have tasted very acidic. Not so tasty in an apple crumble!

The domesticated apples of the sort eaten now come from central Asia, and sweeter-tasting fruit nearer to what we’d recognise appeared in the Middle East around 4,000 years ago. These came about because of the cross-breeding of different types of apples, allowing them to be bred for a more palatable taste. But it was the development of ‘grafting’ – a technique that allowed the growing of trees with especially flavourful fruit – that helped to increase yields, disease-resistance and ease of growing. These varieties in turn passed to Europe, and the Victorians, always enthusiastic horticulturalists, continued to create new types. They developed grafting techniques to maximise production and to share the best across the country.

Tens of English Heritage sites today have orchards, cared for by skilled gardening teams and volunteers. Read about some of these orchards here – and, next time you crunch into your favourite apple variety, don’t forget their fascinating history!

Walmer Castle and Gardens

The array of fruit in the orchards here includes apples and pears which were originally donated by the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers. This livery company (a kind of trade body originating in medieval guilds) can trace its origins to before 1300. The Company gave the fruit collection to Walmer by way of a gift to the Queen Mother, who was undertaking the honorary role of Lord Warden at the castle at the time. In fact the Queen Mother herself planted one apple type, called ‘Jupiter’, in the orchard.

Visitors to Walmer’s orchards will notice that the majority of fruit types are authentic to the region, originating from the Kent area. Varieties on display include historic species such as the ‘Blenheim Orange’ apple, dating from the 1700s, to the much newer ‘Greensleeves’ which was bred in the 1960s by a local Kent research station.