In 2006, together with a few other local residents, I purchased an apple tree of the variety ‘Beachamwell’. The whip (a central stem with little or no side branching) that I planted is now a small tree and in the last few years has begun to bear a few fruits. This year it has managed to produce a grand total of ten apples.
The trees were purchased from Bernwode’s nursery, specialising in heritage varieties, and their catalogue describes the Beachamwell apple thus:
Also called Beachamwell Seedling and, originally, Motteux’s Seedling. Mr Motteux of Beachamwell, in Norfolk, raised it, probably in the middle of the 18th century, according to Bunyard. The fruit is small with a dark green skin, ripening to pale yellow, tinged red on the sunny side, with occasional russet. The yellow flesh is juicy and Hogg calls it “a rich and deliciously flavoured dessert apple, of the highest excellence”. Bunyard, in 1920, reported that it was almost out of cultivation, though old trees can still be found locally. Ripe by November and lasting to April, it is a hardy, good bearer. It can be rather variable in appearance and the amount of russet.
Words and image reproduced by generous permission of Bernwode Fruit Trees from whom specimens of the Beachamwell Apple, and many other heritage fruit varieties, may be purchased.
Bernwode Fruit Trees
It is interesting to compare Bernwode’s description with the apples that I have now collected. Here are mine:The shape and form is much the same, although very little of the russet colour is present. Perhaps this needs a warmer growing season than we have had. As for “rich and deliciously flavoured…” well the one I have sampled so far misses the mark by quite a distance being sharp and hard. Perhaps they will improve with storing over the winter!
Do you grow the Beachamwell apple? Why not comment below with your experiences?