Gloucestershire Orchard Group

Conserves, promotes and celebrates traditional orchards in Gloucestershire

PEARS of GLOUCESTERSHIRE

• September 29 & 30 2007  Malvern Autumn Show,  Extensive Perry Pear display (Image © Jim Chapman and Charles Martell)

Including all known Perry Pears of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

The national distribution of the specialised group of pears known as perry pears is almost totally confined to the three counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Most of the varieties originate in Gloucestershire but because of the difficulty in deciding which varieties are indigenous to the county all known varieties from all three counties are included.

The standard reference work 'PERRY PEARS' was published in 1963 by Long Ashton Research Station as a result of field work undertaken by Ray Williams and Gillian Faulkner. This work is extensively referred to in this section on pears.

The author has carried out a further survey during the 1990's while helping to establish the National Perry Pear Collection at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern. During this survey a number of varieties mentioned but not described in 'PERRY PEARS' have finally come to light and are described here. In addition a number of varieties "new to science" have been discovered along with a small number of Gloucestershire dessert pears not previously recorded.

• Display listing of varieties in the National Collection of Perry Pears.

  variety in existence

Variety name		Synonyms	Description
Arlingham Squash		Squash Pear, Old Squash, Old Taynton Squash	Possibly the ancient Green Squash pear of Evelyn. The fruit is distinguished by the lump on the end of its stem. The variety was saved by the disovery of one old tree.
Barland		Bosbury Pear, Bareland, Bearland	A 17th century variety whose perry was prescribed for its health-giving properties. A big tree like an oak. May have been started at Bosbury, Herefordshire.
Barnet		Barn Pear, Brown Thorn Pear, Hedgehog Pear	Probably originated just south of Gloucester. Its fallen fruits may look like baby hedgehogs nestling in the grass hence its synonym. Edible.
Bartestree Squash			Described from the Herefordshire village of its name. It makes a large tall tree and is a good cropper.
Bastard Longdon
Bastard Sack
Beetroot Pear			There is more than one cultivar of this name at Wick Court, Arlingham, thus it is a collective term for some red-fleshed perry pears.
Betty Prosser			A 'variety new to science' in 1995, found on a remote farm in Corse. Who was Betty Prosser?
Billy Williams
Black Huffcap		Black Pear
Blacksmith
Blakeney Red		Blakeney, Red Pear, Circus Pear, Painted Lady, Painted Pear	The most common perry pear which could also be stewed and used to dye soldiers' khaki uniforms.
Bloody Bastard
Bosbury Scarlet
Boy Pear			A variety mentioned in the previous survey of perry pears conducted in the 1960s. It was recently discovered growing in Ruardean.
Brandy			Similar to the Red Pear. Popular in the Forest of Dean in the 19th century. Makes a smallish tree.
Brockhill - see Red Longdon
Brown Bess		Brown Bessie	Originally a culinary pear so its large russetted fruits can also be used in the kitchen. Common in South Gloucestershire.
Brown Russet
Bunch Pear			Identified by Eric Freeman of Newent as a variety he remembered from his boyhood in the 1940s.
Butt		Norton Butt	Originated at Norton. The pear does not rot down easily so there is a saying 'Gather your Butts one year, mill them the next, and drink the year after.'
Butter Pear			A very small pear from a small tree; as well as being used for perry making it is reputed to spread on bread like butter, hence its name.
Cannock			A Forest of Dean variety whose name is probably derived from miners who migrated from Staffordshire to work in the Forest pits.
Chaxhill Rough
Christmas Pear			A poor quality general purpose variety from Newent.
Ciphrous			Primarily a dessert variety. Introduced near Westbury-on-Severn in 1920
Claret			A variety originally known from its inclusion in Long Ashton Research Station trial orchards between 1908 and 1918. Its origin is lost.
Clipper Dick
Clusters			A local variety from Hardwick, Gloucestershire where it still grows. A heavy cropping variety.
Coppy		Coppice	One of the 'Huffcap' group, all of which have elliptical fruits; Coppy is distinguishable by its tree characteristics and variable cropping. The specimen in the NCCPG has recently found not to be true.
Cowslip			Described as rare in the 1950s, miraculously rediscovered growing in Dymock; it has a distinctive cone shaped 'stone' in the eye of the fruit.
Cygnet
Cygnet Pear			Makes a very large tree; described as a 'new' variety by a man who picked its fruit from a sixty rung ladder in the 1920s. General purpose.
Dead Boy			A very heavy cropping perry pear. Maybe it is named because of the inedible nature of the fruit or the strength of the perry. Known from Ross-on-Wye.
Ducksbarn		Duckbarn, Ducksbourne	Very rare but once found scattered in orchards in the vicinity of Gloucester.
Early Blet
Early Blunt Red		Blunt Red	Found at Tirley. Used to produce an early maturing perry ready for Christmas.
Early Griffin		Griffin's Early	A seedling selection by the Griffin family near Ross-on-Wye where graftwood was obtained to propagate this variety.
Early Hay Pear		Hay Pear	Re-discovered at Westbury-on-Severn. Ripens in August and may be used for perry as well as dessert.
Early Longdon
Early Taynton Squash			There is uncertainty as to the 'true' Taynton Squash. Two distinct varieties are now recognised - the 'Early' and the 'Late'.
Early Treacle
Flakey Bark			Found round Taynton and other isolated areas. The trees may be identified by the flaky off-white colour of the limbs. Beware the fruits which are intensely astringent.
Ford's Green Huffcap		Hillend Green	Located at Taynton following the re-discovery of Herbert Durham's 1923 photograph album.
Forrest Pear
Gennet			Gennet is a generic term for an early pear. Two types are represented in the collection - Laurels and Threshold.
Gennet (Laurel)
Gennet (Threshold)
Gin			A favoured variety in old orchards around Newent; the tree branches have heavy, conspicuous spur systems.
Golden Balls
Goldings
Grandfather Tum(p)
Green Horse			From north and north west Gloucestershire. The fruits are apple-shaped and large. They can also be stewed or pickled.
Green Longdon		Brown Longdon, Longdon, Longland(s), Old Fashioned Longdon, Russet Longdon	Widely grown in north west Gloucestershire. A largish tree . Probably a very old variety.
Green Olive			A very large general purpose variety from Ashleworth where it was recently discovered.
Green Roller			From the banks of the lower reaches of the River Severn around Westbury-on-Severn. The fruits are like miniature Conference pears.
Gregg's Pit			Once very common in the vicinity of Much Marcle. Presumed to have originated at Gregg's Pit in that village, where a very large specimen still grows.
Hampton Rough		Roughs
Harley Gum		Arlingham	Known from Alvington, Gloucestershire. Its name may be a mis- pronounciation of its synonym Arlingham.
Hartpury Green		Chaceley Green, Chaseley Green	The only tree of this variety identified at the Three Counties Showground before the National collection was established was a specimen of this variety, under its synonym Chaceley Green.
Hastings
Hatherley Squash
Hellen's Early		Sweet Huffcap	From the Hellens, Much Marcle. One tree still grows in the avenue there.
Hellen's Green			A lost variety which was re-discovered as a result of Herbert Durham's 1923 album coming to light. One of an avenue planted at the Hellens, Much Marcle in 1710 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Anne.
Hendre Huffcap		Lumberskull, Yellow Huffcap	A valued variety with excellent orchard and perry making qualities. It is very prone to the disease silver leaf.
Heydon
High Pear			Known from Kempley. Its name is confusing. It makes a small tree and perhaps it was originally the Eye pear.
Holme Lacey Pear			Surviving rooted branches of the tree are growing near the village church at Holme Lacy. The original tree was recorded as covering three-quarters of an acre in 1790 and producing 5-7 tons of fruit annually!
Holmer		Holmore, Cluster Top, Startlecock, Tun Pear	Named after the parish of Holmer; Herefordshire. Not a heavy cropping variety.
Honeydew		Honeyknob, Honeyknapp	From Teddington, although a perry variety, its fruit is sweet and refreshing enough to eat during the corn harvest.
Honeyknob		Honeydew
Ironsides
Jenkin's Red			The bark is divided into characteristic short segments; this is the only Huffcap-type fruit with a prominent flush.
Judge Amphlett			Named after a famous Worcestershire assize courts judge, this is a heavy cropping, early harvesting variety.
Knapper		Napper, Knap Pear	A local west Gloucestershire variety known fron Oxenhall and Kempley. Was used for making perry ready for Christmas.
Late Hay Pear		Hay Pear
Late Taynton Squash			Collected from Taynton in the late 1900s. It is uncertain whether this or the Early Taynton Squash is the true 'Taynton Squash'.
Late Treacle			Scattered trees occurred in the Newent area. Despite its name it is one of the earliest pears to be harvested. This variety is now lost.
Lullam			A curiously named and little known variety from Witcombe, just below the Cotswold scarp.
Lumber		Lumber Reds, Cumber, Steelyard Balls, Steelyer Balls, Swaycots, Stitter Balls, Pollocks, Rams Cods	Known from Huntley. A small tree with large attractive fruits of little value for cooking or perry making.
Margaret
Merrylegs			A variety found on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean, producing sweet tasting fruits.
Moorcroft		Malvern Hills, Stinking Bishop, Choke Pear, Chokers, Malvern Pear	A widespread variety from Moorcroft Farm, Colwall. Invariably known as `Malvern Hills' east of the Severn. A fine vintage variety. Grows into a fine oak-like tree.
Murrell
Nailer		Billy Williams	Known from Gorsley. So named because it is difficult to shake the fruit from the tree and it may stay there till the new year.
New Meadow		Lintot, Yokehouse	A russet pear with a scented flower - unusual in perry pear trees. Once common in the Ledbury area. Found in north Gloucestershire.
Newbridge		White Moorcroft	A Worcestershire variety known from Berrow. The flower buds may be pink or red. The large flowers make for a striking tree in springtime.
Oldfield		Ollville, Oleville, Offield, Awrel, Hawfield	Originated at Oldfield, Leddington Gloucestershire. A smallish tree much prone to disease. Makes a high quality perry.
Painted Lady			A beautiful pear appropriately named. May also be eaten.
Parsonage			Known from Kempley. A large spreading tree. The earliest perry pear tree to start growing in the spring.
Penny Pear			A dessert pear which would have inevitably been used as a perry cask filler. From Ocle Street.
Pig Pear
Pine			Originally known from Herefordshire. A small tree with small pears. Its name gets confused with Pint.
Pint		Pine	Known from Longhope but widespread. A large tree with large poorish quality pears. The distinctive leaves have a wavy edge.
Potato Pear			From Ruardean and known down in Monmouthshire. So named because it looks like a potato.
Red Huffcap		Huffcap, Uffcap, Uffcup
Red Longdon		Red Longley, Red Longney, Brockle, Brockhill, Cider Pear	A very old variety once widespread and still represented by a few scattered trees. Prone to canker. Known from Huntley.
Red Pear		Aylton Red, Blunt Red, Red Horse, Black Horse, Sack	Known for at least 400 years. Probably a Herefordshire variety. The tree may be of various shapes. A vintage quality variety.
Rock		Mad Pear, Mad Cap, Black Huffcap, Brown Huffcap, Red Huffcap, Huffcap, Uffcap, Uffcup	Believed to have originated early in the 19th century at Pendock. Famous for quality highly alcoholic perry. The branches are wavy and horizontal.
Rumblers		Jug Rumblers, Rumble Jumble
Sack		Longstalk, Longstuck	A very old variety, once widely planted in the vicinity of Newent particularly in Gorsley. May be confused with Turners Barn, but its fruit falls earlier.
Sickle Pear		American Sickle
Silver Pear		Summer Pear
Snake Pole			Recorded in the late 1950s at Oxenton. Rediscovered growing there in 2001.
Sow Pear
Speart Pear			A very old variety from Arlingham where there are a number of fields called `The Spearts'.
Staunton Squash		White Squash, Stanton Squash, Squirt Pear	This variety is believed to have originated at Staunton, north Gloucestershire.
Stinking Bishop
Stony Way			Mentioned in 1886 and recorded by Durham in 1923. Re-discovered in 2001 by reference to Durham's newly re-discovered photograph album.
Strawberry Pear			Primarily a dessert pear from the Gloucester area.
Swan Egg
Teddington Green		Teddingtons	A relatively `new' variety which originated at Teddington Manor, Teddington, Gloucestershire.
Thorn			A very old good quality perry variety. Also culinary and dessert.
Thurston's Red		Dymock Red, Billy Thurston	Started at the White House in the middle of Dymock, possibly by William Thurston. It looks like an ash tree and its bark is divided into little square segments.
Tumper		Tum, Tom, Tump	Known from Huntley, Gloucestershire. An early maturing perry pear, its fruits are quite small.
Turner's Barn		Longstalk, Longstuck, Barn	Known from Newent. It was particularly favoured because its upright branches were out of the way of browsing cattle. The fruit has long stalks.
Water Lugg			Identified as the result of the re-discovery of Herbert Durham's 1923 photograph album. One tree forms part of an avenue of pears planted at the Hellens, Much Marcle in 1710.
White Bache		Bache's White, Beech White, White Beech	Known from Kempley. Produces vintage quality perry but is a light cropper.
White Longdon		Dandoe, Garradine, Longlands, Bastard Longdon, Port, Bastard Barland	Known from Oxenton. Rejoices under a wonderful variety of synonyms. Produces a good to excellent perry.
Winnal's Longdon		Longdon, Longland(s)	Raised by Mr Winnal at Weston-under-Penyard about 1790. To be found between Ross and Tewkesbury.
Yellow Huffcap		Huffcap, Uffcap, Uffcup, Brown Huffcap, Black Huffcap, Green Huffcap, King's Arms, Yellow Longdon, Yellow Longland(s), Chandos Huffcap	A large tree, known from Westbury-on-Severn. A heavy cropper producing an excellent quality perry. Widely planted over several hundred years, hence some seven or more synonyms. This pear is noted for the strength and quality of its perry, however fruit should be shaken before it is ripe otherwise it may rot on the tree.
Young Heydon

84 varieties in existence

© Charles Martell. March 1999