Lord Burghley
Origin and History
A well-regarded Victorian, winter dessert apple of unknown parentage, Lord Burghley was discovered in the early 1800s growing as a seedling in discarded waste at Burghley Park by a Mr Matheson, head gardener to the Marquis of Exeter. It finally started bearing fruit in 1834 and was introduced to the Royal Horticultural Society by Messrs House
nurserymen of Peterborough, in 1856, when it received a First Class Certificate
Fruit
A handsome, crisp, juicy, eating apple, the fruit has firm, fine-textured, rather dry flesh with a sweet and rich aromatic flavour. Average in size, the skin is greenish brown with large russet spots, becoming flushed with deep red over time.
Picking, Storing and Using
The pomologist Edward Bunyard considered Lord Burghley to be one of the best eating apples. It should be picked in mid October and stores exceptionally well, through to April or May.
Growth, Flowering and Pollination
The tree is of medium height and spreading in shape, a light cropper and late harvester.
Lord Burghley is self-sterile. Good pollinators include Barnack Beauty, Laxton’s Superb and Newton Wonder.
​
​
Copyright © Karen Meadows 2018