Golden Noble
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Golden Noble
Origin/History
The origin of this apple is not known. It was first brought into notice by Sir Thomas Harr, of Stow Hall, Norfolk, whose gardener procured it from a tree supposed to be the original, growing in an old orchard at Downham. It was communicated to the Horticultural Society of London in 1820, and is probably therefore an old variety. Downing characterizes it as an old English variety.
Tree
The tree grows freely and bears abundantly. It should be grown much more generally than it is, as well for its own great merits as for its marketable qualities.
Fruit
Size and Form: Handsome, large. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the form as round, slightly narrowing towards the eye; Downing, citing Lindley, describes it as pretty large, roundish conical.
Stem: Short, with a fleshy growth on one side of it which connects it with the fruit.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Eye small.
Basin: Round and deep, surrounded with plaits.
Skin: Smooth, clear bright yellow, without any blush of red, but bearing a few small reddish spots and here and there a small patch of thin russet.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellow, tender, perfectly melting. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the juice as pleasant and acid, with a rich acidity; Downing (citing Lindley) characterizes the flavor as pleasant and subacid. Bakes to a clear amber colour.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
The Herefordshire Pomona gives the season as the end of September to the middle of December, and names it the best apple in its season. Downing gives November and December.
Uses
Very attractive and valuable; valuable for cooking and baking. Notable for its marketable qualities.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 6 catalogs (1897–1917) from England
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- GOLDEN NOBLE. [Syn: Edelapfel gelber] The origin of this apple is not known. It was first brought into notice by Sir Thomas Harr, of Stow Hall, Norfolk. His gardener procured it from a tree, supposed to be the original, in an old orchard at Downham, and communicated it to the Horticultural Society of London in 1820. It is probably therefore an old variety. Description.—Fruit: handsome, large, round, and slightly narrowing towards the eye. Skin: smooth, clear bright yellow, without any blush of red, but a few small reddish spots, and here and there a small patch of thin russet. Eye: small, set in a round and deep basin, surrounded with plaits. Stalk: short, with a fleshy growth on one side of it, which connects it with the fruit. Flesh: yellow, tender, with a pleasant acid juice, perfectly melting, with a rich acidity, and baking of a clear amber colour. A very attractive and valuable apple, in season from the end of September to the middle of December, and the best in its season. The tree grows freely and bears abundantly. It should be grown much more generally than it is, as well for its own great merits as for its marketable qualities.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Golden Noble. An old English variety, valuable for cooking. Lindley describes it as pretty large, roundish conical, bright yellow with a few small reddish spots and patches of russet. Flesh yellow, tender, pleasant, subacid. November, December.