Wormsley Grange
PearWormsley Grange Pear
Origin/History
Said to have been sent to the Hon. John Lowell by Mr. Knight, with the remark that it requires to be gathered before it is quite ripe and that it is a variety of first-rate excellence in Herefordshire, England. First cited in Kenrick's American Orchardist (1832). In 1842 it was listed as having been removed from the gardens of the London Horticultural Society because of inferior merit.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size/Form: Very cylindrical.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Cinnamon colour with a pale speckling.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellow, melting, very juicy, sweet and rich. At its best it is as good as a Chaumontel, which it closely resembles.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
In perfection at the end of October. The merits of this pear depend very much upon the season. It ripens early and should be gathered early, or it will become yellow and sleepy on the tree. Gathered at the proper time and in a favourable season it has proved most excellent.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The two sources present a minor tension regarding quality: the Herefordshire Pomona (1885) rates it highly when properly gathered ("most excellent," comparable to Chaumontel), while Hedrick notes it was dropped from the London Horticultural Society's gardens in 1842 for inferior merit — consistent with the Pomona's observation that its quality is strongly season-dependent.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)Wormseley Grange Pear.
Very cylindrical. Skin cinnamon colour with a pale speckling. Flesh yellow, melting, very juicy, sweet and rich; in perfection the end of October, and as good as a Chaumontel, which it is very like.
Remarks.—The merits of this Pear depend very much upon the season. It ripens early, and should be gathered early, or it will become yellow and sleepy on the tree. Gathered at the proper time and in a favourable season it has proved most excellent.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Wormsley Grange. 1. Kenrick Am. Orch. 187. 1832.
This is a variety which is said to have been sent to the Hon. John Lowell by Mr. Knight with the remarks that it requires to be gathered before it is quite ripe and that it is a variety of first-rate excellence in Herefordshire, Eng. In 1842 it was listed as having been removed from the gardens of the London Horticultural Society because of inferior merit.