Eynsham has long been associated with apples but one name sticks out, that of Wastie. Frederick W Wastie set up a nursery at Acre Hill and by the mid 1890's was breeding new apple varieties. His son James was involved in the business after the First World War and it was he that was primarily responsible for registering them. In total they bred 62 varieties though unfortunately a large proportion have been lost. We are raising, with the help of the Wastie family, a number of trees and hope that in the future these will become a resource for future generations.
The apples have names reflecting amongst other things their local heritage, the families of Fred and James.
The descriptions below of have been provided by the Tolmans of Bernwode Fruit Trees who stock many of these varieties.
Caudal Market (1924) A cross between Lane’s Prince Albert and Hambledon Deux Ans. Late season, ripe in October and lasting to the turn of the year. A medium sized, sometimes large apple, flattened to truncate conic, and green to gold with red stripes and sometimes a full blush. The flesh is crisp, sweet, very juicy and with a very pleasing, slightly unusual fruity flavour. When cooked, the flesh is slow to soften and keeps its shape, being very sweet and rich, without too much sharpness.
Corry's Wonder (1917) Bred in 1917 by Mr E. Corry Hanks of Eynsham, from Beauty of Stoke possibly crossed with Lane’s Prince Albert. It was introduced by the Wastie's nursery who in 1945 sent it to the National Fruit Trials. It is a late culinary apple, ripe in October and keeping until February. Apples are large and flat, with indistinct ribs and pale-green skin, yellow flushed and faintly streaked with pale brownish red. The flesh is soft and sweet, with some acidity. It cooks to a purée, with a good blend of flavour, sweetness and sharpness.
Eynsham Challenger (1935) Raised from Blenheim Orange x Lord Derby The apple is ribbed, rounded and oblong to conical, with pale yellow-green skin, slightly flushed with orange and lightly russeted. The apples are ripe quite late in the season and will last until the year end. When cooked, the flesh breaks down to a sharp but fairly rich purée. It crops well
Eynsham Dumpling (1935) from the seed of Blenheim Orange pollinated by Sandringham. A medium to large culinary apple, ripe quite late in the season and lasting to the year end. The ribbed apples are conical to squarish, with yellow-green skin, thinly covered with russet, and occasional patches, and with a warm glow in the sun. The flesh is sharp and firm, which when cooked keeps its shape with a reasonably good sweet-sharp flavour, though the addition of a little sugar helps. The trees are very productive, regular croppers and yield apples of uniform size and shape. The blossom is large and attractive
Jennifer (1923) Recorded in 1944, when it was sent to the National Fruit Trials by his son, J.F. Wastie, who named it after his daughter. A cross between Duchess’s Favourite and Beauty of Bath. It is an early dessert apple, ready in late August and early September. The apples are slightly ribbed with yellow skin, flushed pale red and striped with bright red. A sweet, crsip and juicy apple, but does not keep long. A vigorous grower. Part tip bearing.
Jennifer Wastie Another apple bred by F.W. Wastie, in 1934, and first recorded when sent to the National Fruit Trials in 1945, by his son J.F. Wastie. As with Jennifer, above, J.F. Wastie provided the names for his father’s apples, and also named this one after his daughter Jennifer. A middle to late season dessert apple ripe in September to October. It is a cross between Ribston Pippin and Barnack Beauty. The flattish apples are slightly ribbed, with skin of green/yellow, flushed red, with coarse brown russet. Sweet and well flavoured but not particularly juicy.
Old Fred Raised by F.W. Wastie in 1922, it was a cross between Allington Pippin and Court Pendu Plat. It was named and exhibited (1944) by his son, J.F. Wastie, also a breeder of fruit. The name ‘Old Fred’ refers to ‘Fred’ W. Wastie. He was known locally as Old Fred, to distinguish him from his fruit breeding son J. ‘Fred’ Wastie. The medium sized, flattened truncate conic apples are slightly ribbed with skin of pale yellow, often dotted and with a red/orange flush. A dessert apple with an attractive appearance, but also used for cooking, when it keeps its shape and needs no sugar added. Ripe in October, but best stored for a while. Pretty, dark blossom buds.
Oxford Beauty In the 1920s and 30’s, Frederick W. Wastie, bred many apples at Eynsham. His son J.Frederick Wastie continued to breed fruit and introduced some of his father’s apples. The five ‘Oxford’ apples here were all bred by ‘Old Fred’ - a small part of his output. Oxford Beauty was raised in 1924 from a cross between Gascoyne’s Scarlet and Scarlet Nonpareil or Nonpareil. The skin is pale yellow, with a red blush and dots. It is crisp, melting and sweet, subacid and with a good flavour. Early/middle season, it does not keep for long. Spreading habit.
Oxford Conquest A cross between Blenheim Orange and Court Pendu Plat, it was raised in 1927. The dessert apples are medium to large, with pale green/yellow skin, blushed in the sun with tawny red. Ripe quite late in the year, usually in November. The flesh is crisp, a little sharp at first but mellowing and becoming richer and sweeter in December, when the flavour is unusual and quite powerful - sweet and with a bit of a tang.
Oxford Hoard Raised in 1922 from Sturmer Pippin and Golden Russet, it was first exhibited in 1942. The ribbed dessert apples are medium sized with skin of yellow, orange in the sun. They are ripe quite late in the year but develop a sweet aromatic flavour. Carmine pink blossom
Oxford Sunrise Probably raised in the 1920s, it was first exhibited in 1942. A cross between Cox’s Orange Pippin and Lane’s Prince Albert. A medium sized dessert apple with yellow/green skin streaked with red and blushed with orange. The flesh is crisp, juicy, subacid and refreshing. Fruit is ripe in late October and will store to the end of the year.
Oxford Yeoman Raised in 1922 from crossing Blenheim Orange with Lane’s Prince Albert. It is a large cooking apple with pale green/yellow skin, striped over most of the body with orange and scarlet. The flesh is juicy and acid, cooking to a purée. Late season, keeping well into the New Year. The blossom is impressive, with dark buds.
Peggy's Pride Another of the apples raised by F.W. Wastie, by crossing Allington Pippin with Golden Spire, in 1922. It was first recorded when received by the National Fruit Trials in 1943. It was named by his son, J.F. Wastie, after his own wife. It is a crisp, juicy, tangy dessert apple, ripe in September and keeping into November. The pale golden yellow skin is blushed red and dotted.
Red Army Raised in 1924 by F.W. Wastie, and first recorded when his son, J.F. Wastie, (who also named the apple) sent it to Wisley in 1943. It was bred from a cross of Chatley’s Kernel and Worcester Pearmain. Names like Comrade Wastie and Red Army might suggest political leanings to the left, but correspondence shown to us by Jack Wastie suggests the opposite, and perhaps the namings were in appreciation of a wartime ally. Medium sized with skin of pale yellow, flushed and striped with red. The flesh is crisp, sweet and subacid. Ripe in September, the apples will keep for a month or two. Showy pink flowers
Sergeant Peggy Blenheim Orange and Gloria Mundi. It was named by his son, J.F. Wastie, after his own wife. The culinary apple is large, lightly ribbed, slightly conic, sometimes flat, greenish yellow and mostly striped with light crimson. The flesh is firm, creamy white, subacid and has a pleasing mellow flavour when cooked. Ripe in October it will keep to January. Attractive dark pink buds