Hessle
Pear
Hessle
Origin/History
Hessle is an old English pear that takes its name from the village of Hessle, near Kingston-upon-Hull, in Yorkshire, where it was first discovered. Its precise history is not known. It is known under the synonyms Hessel and Hazel.
Tree
Very hardy and vigorous, and a most abundant bearer. Forms a fine standard succeeding in almost every situation, and particularly in northern climates where the more tender varieties do not attain perfection. In Yorkshire it is grown almost universally. The Hessle pear trees in Herefordshire were laden with fruit in 1880, when almost all other varieties failed.
Fruit
Size and Form: Below medium size (Herefordshire Pomona) or rather small (Hedrick); turbinate.
Stem: About an inch long, obliquely inserted without depression.
Cavity: None described; stalk inserted without depression.
Calyx/Eye: Small and open, slightly depressed.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Greenish yellow when ripe, very much covered with large russety dots which give it a freckled appearance. When not yet ripe, of an olive colour thickly studded with large russety dots.
Flesh/Flavor: Tender and very juicy, sweet, with a high aroma (Herefordshire Pomona). Nearly white, tender, with an agreeable aromatic juice (Hedrick).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October.
Uses
An excellent market-garden pear, and one of the most remunerative to the grower.
Subtypes/Variants
There are two varieties of the Hessle Pear, or rather two Hessle Pears, known in Yorkshire. The one figured in the Herefordshire Pomona — the better of the two — is of an olive colour thickly studded with large russety dots, becoming a greenish yellow when ripe. The other is an inferior pear: larger, of a lighter colour, more yellow, with much fewer dots. This inferior form quickly decays in the centre; it is juicy and pleasant if eaten at the right moment, but has no special merit.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1911) from England
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
View original book sources (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- HESSLE.
[Syn : Hessel; Hazel.]
This Pear takes its name from the village of Hessle, near Kingston-upon-Hull, in Yorkshire, where it was first discovered, but its precise history is not known.
Description.—Fruit: below medium size; turbinate. Skin: greenish yellow, very much covered with large russety dots, which give it a freckled appearance. Eye: small and open, slightly depressed. Stalk: an inch long, obliquely inserted without depression. Flesh: tender, very juicy, sweet, and with a high aroma.
An excellent Pear, in season in October. There are two varieties of the Hessle Pear, or rather two Hessle Pears, known in Yorkshire. The one figured here, the best of them, is of an olive colour thickly studded with large russety dots, but becomes a greenish yellow when ripe. The other is an inferior Pear, larger, of a lighter colour, more yellow and with much fewer dots. This Pear quickly decays in the centre. It is juicy and pleasant if eaten at the right moment, but has no special merit.
This tree is very hardy, vigorous and a most abundant bearer. It forms a fine standard succeeding in almost every situation, and particularly in the northern climates where the more tender varieties do not attain perfection. In Yorkshire it is grown almost universally, and as a market pear it is one of the best and most remunerative to the grower. The Hessle pear trees in Herefordshire were laden with fruit in the year 1880, when almost all other varieties failed.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Hessle. 1. Hogg Fruit Man. 593. 1884. 2. Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 180. 1920. Hessle is an old English pear, and takes its name from the village of Hessle in Yorkshire where it was first discovered. Fruit rather small, turbinate, greenish-yellow, much covered with large russety dots, giving it a freckled appearance; flesh nearly white, tender, with an agreeable, aromatic juice; a good market-garden pear; Oct.