Norfolk Beauty
AppleNorfolk Beauty
Origin / History
Raised by Mr. Allan, gardener at Gunton Park, from Warner's King and Waltham Abbey (Bunyard 1920; Bunyard & Co. 1914 gives Waltham Abbey × Warner's King). Veitch (1911) states it to be a chance seedling from Warner's King and Waltham Abbey Seedling, bearing some resemblance to these two varieties. Introduced to commerce in 1902. Described in Gard. Chron., 1902, p. 453. Veitch records an F.C.C. Bunyard (1920) calls it "a very excellent fruit worthy of extended cultivation." Bunyard & Co. (1914) says "This variety is proving very valuable, and has during the past two years cropped abundantly."
Tree
Growth moderate. Fertility medium, cropping well when the tree is formed (Bunyard 1920); fertile when the tree is mature (Bunyard & Co.). Veitch calls it a heavy and constant cropper. Leaf rather large, gray-green, little upfolded, undulated, sharply curved serrate.
Fruit
Size: Large, 3½ by 2¼ (Bunyard 1920); very large, resembling Warner's King (Bunyard & Co.).
Form: Round, flattened, regular.
Stem: Long and thin, woody.
Cavity: Even and narrow, feathered with russet.
Calyx: Eye closed.
Basin: Moderately deep, plaited, with prominent knobs at the top.
Skin: Pale lemon yellow with faint red flush (Bunyard 1920); yellow with a trace of red on the sunny side (Veitch). Of a richer golden tint than Warner's King (Bunyard & Co.).
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Loose, yellowish; cooks frothily.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September to January. Bunyard (1920) and Bunyard & Co. (1914) give October to December; Veitch alone extends it from September to January.
Uses
Culinary. "Excellent cooker" (Bunyard & Co.).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
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 (3)
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)NORFOLK BEAUTY. Gard. Chron., 1902, p. 453.
Culinary, October to December, large, 3½ by 2¼, round flattened, regular. Colour, pale lemon yellow with faint red flush. Flesh, loose, yellowish, cooks frothily. Eye, closed, in a moderately deep plaited basin, which has prominent knobs at the top. Stem, long and thin, woody, in an even and narrow cavity, which is feathered with russet. Growth, moderate ; fertility, medium. Leaf, rather large, grey-green, little upfolded, undulated, sharply curved serrate. Origin, raised by Mr. Allan, gardener at Gunton Park, from Warner's King and Waltham Abbey. Introduced to commerce in 1902. A very excellent fruit worthy of extended cultivation, cropping well when the tree is formed.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)stated to be a chance seedling from Warner's King and Waltham Abbey Seedling, it bears some resemblance to these two varieties, skin yellow with a trace of red on the sunny side, a heavy and constant cropper. F.C.C. ... Sept. to Jan.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Catalog of Fruit Trees (1914) (1914)Culinary: Oct.-Dec. Very large, resembling Warner's King, but of a richer golden tint, excellent cooker; fertile when tree is mature. This variety is proving very valuable, and has during the past two years cropped abundantly. Raised by Mr. Allan, Gunton Park (Waltham Abbey × Warner's King). Introduced to commerce in 1902.