Manx Codlin

Origin and History

Manx or Manks Codlin was raised by civil engineer, James Kewley, in his father's garden at Ballanard on the Isle of Man. It first fruited in 1815 and was presented to the London Horticultural Society collection in 1826. A reliable, early, cooking apple, Manx Codlin was mainly grown in the north and in Scotland.

Fruit

The medium-sized fruit is conical and slightly angular. The smooth, green/yellow skin becomes paler with a blush of pink or orange-red in the sun. The flesh is yellow-white, firm, juicy and perfumed.

Picking, Storing and Using

The sweetest of the codlins, it needs to be picked and used early. It breaks down quickly when cooked making it excellent for purées and sauces. It is also good baked.

Manx Codlin

Manx Codlin has an extraordinary number of synonyms, including Belmont, Eva, English Pitcher, Frith Pitcher, Orme, Rambour Barre, Summer Codlin and Winter St Lawrence.

Growth, Flowering and Pollination

Manx Codlin forms a compact tree with a spreading habit and pretty, very scented blossom. It does well on exposed sites and on poor soil but is comparatively short-lived. Pollinators include Keswick Codlin, Lord Lambourne, and Ribston Pippin.

Born in Ballanard in 1783 and a fluent Manx speaker, James Kewley's interests and skills were remarkable in their breadth, ranging from the invention of a patented 'Hydropneumatic Apparatus for heating hothouses, conservatories and churches' to the 'beautiful and accurate' 1819 Manx Bible translation.