Description
This variety was discovered at Ribston Hall near Knaresborough, and is thought to have come from a seed taken there from Normandy in 1688, and given to Sir Henry Goodricke. The first tree blew down in 1810 but did not die until 1835, when a young shoot sprouted and survived until a gale in 1928. The fruit that we offer is a direct descendent of this. The tree is a good cropper being hardy and prolific throughout northern Europe and The fruit is of excellent quality, with an intense, rich aromatic flavour, and firm juicy deep cream flesh.
"Well known throughout the country as one of the highest excellence and Perhaps not to be surpassed."
Lindley
"The joy of growing an apple from a pip and having it turn out to be one the finest hardy apples, which has enjoyed popularity for almost three hundred years, must be immeasurable. In 1688, when Sir Henry Goodricke brought back three pips to Ribston Hall, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, from Rouen, France, from an apple that he had enjoyed there, he must have hoped for, but cannot have imagined such success. It was commercially a slow starter; listed by the Pontefract nurseryman, William Perfect, in 1769, and by 1775 was being sold by the Brompton Park nursery. Introduced to Northern Europe in the early 1800s, it travelled to Nova Scotia, America, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden, and, by the latter part of the 19th century, was grown commercially in the orchards of Kent. As a reputed parent of the Cox's Orange Pippin, it has spawned an enormous number of valuable and successful grandchildren. Helmsley Walled Garden grows an 'applegram' with Ribston Pippin at its heart, a living family tree representing some of its notable descendants, which include Sunset, Suntan, Fiesta and Merton Russet.
It is still grown throughout Britain. Nicols calls it 'a universal apple for these kingdoms; it will thrive at John O'Groats, while it deserves a place at Exeter or at Cork' It is favoured in Sweden, offered by nurseries in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia, and at the famous Siloam Orchards in Canada. In continental climates it ripens earlier than in Britain, in late August or early September. Dr Hogg declares that 'It is at its greatest perfection during November and December, but with good management will keep till March.' But those who have eaten it sun warmed, out of hand, straight from the tree, must surely agree with Bunyard's enlightened friend. 'An incontinent friend eats his Ribstons direct from the tree, and has at least convinced me that we do, in fact, place too late a season for this admirable fruit'. The texture is crisp, the skin firm, the flesh bursting with sweet-sharp juice; the flavour is intensely aromatic, with a suggestion of pear drops. It has a vitamin C content of 31mg/100g, about 4-5 times the average, and yields an excellent medium-sharp juice, which makes good cider. Recorded as one of Ruskin's favourite apples, it is scarcely surpassed as an apple with cheese. Great cooks consider it the apple of choice for all manner of pies.
The original tree at Ribston Hall blew over in 1815, was then propped up and lingered till 1835, but a shoot grew and lived on until 1932. Hilary Wilson says of it: 'It is an intensely rich, aromatic apple and is my all-time favourite. It was the first apple I grafted and I got the wood from a tree in the village of Osbaldwick near York. The owner of the orchard told me her grandfather went to Ribston Hall especially to get the wood from the original tree.'" © Lin Hawthorne - 'The Northern Pomona'.
For help with choosing the correct rootstock for your needs, please click here A Guide to Rootstocks
For help with choosing the correct size and shape, please click here A Guide to Fruit Tree Shapes
