Bramley tree offshoot planted at The Hearty Goodfellow, Southwell, to mark pub’s cider award
A poignant tree planting has helped feed the legacy of a famous apple.
An offshoot of the original mother Bramley was planted just an ‘apple’s throw’ away from its Church Street garden, at the Hearty Goodfellow pub, on St George’s Day (April 23).
The famed cooking apple has a long association with Southwell — having originated in the town from a pip planted by Mary Ann Brailsford in 1805 and later being sold by Henry Merryweather in 1876.
Henry Merryweather’s great-grandchildren Roger Merryweather, Celia Merryweather, and Eileen Connet were among those at the planting ceremony — alongside publicans Tony Marriot and Emma Hopkins and artist Dan Llywelyn Hall.
Roger said: “The original tree is just a stone’s throw away so it’s rather nice we’re planting a Bramley in the Hearty Goodfellow garden. Hopefully it will produce lots of fruit for them to use in pies and such.
“It’s a great honour to plant one here.”
Celia added: “I think Henry would be pleased to see this.
“The legacy of the Bramley Apple is so important, and to plant it on St George’s Day is perfect.”
It was the first planting supported by the Mother Bramley Apple Legacy Fund, which was started by Dan Llywelyn Hall to maintain and enhance the famed fruit tree and its legacy as it becomes older.
Dan said: “The original tree is literally an apple’s throw from here, and we wanted the first planting to be close to the mother as possible.
“The next will be at the Hereford Museum of Cider.”
The Hearty Goodfellow’s garden was not only chosen for it’s close proximity to the original tree, but also to celebrate it’s recent CAMRA cider award.
While renowned for its sour taste, the Bramley also has a place in cider making, with its juice used to balance the sweetness of the other apples in some recipes.
“We were approached a few weeks ago by these good people asking if we would have a Bramley here,” Tony added.
“Straight away we said yes, the Bramley is synonymous with this area and we’re very happy to have it here — it’s a great pleasure.”
The ancient tradition of Wassailing was also marked, with a glass of cider poured on the new tree to bless it for a good harvest and protect it from evil spirits, and a cheer went up as it was settled into its new home.
