Exhibition: Codlings, Costards and Biffins

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The most prized of all our native fruits, apples are an important part of our national heritage. They are one of our oldest crops which for centuries have sustained us and through the ages have come to delight us in chutneys, jellies, puddings and pies and of course, the occasional cider! Traditional orchards once covered the land and each county lay claim to their own unique varieties from the well-loved ‘Blenheim Orange’ to the now rare ‘Gloucester White’ and ‘Wyken Pippin’. 

The RHS has long supported our English apple growing industry. Commissioning fruit portraits by celebrated botanical artists and establishing living reference orchards across the gardens, for 200 years the RHS has helped to classify and to cultivate. This exhibition at the RHS Lindley Library will explore our rich apple heritage. Displaying original artworks by William Hooker, as well as rare books and pomological catalogues from the library collections, it will trace the history of apple growing and explore our love for this most fantastic fruit. 

A version of the exhibition will also be at RHS Garden Rosemoor throughout October and garden displays will be at RHS Garden Harlow Carr throughout October.

Displays include imagery from the RHS Lindley Library collections and from Beaford Archive. 

Image: [partial view] ‘The Blenheim Orange Pippin’ watercolour by William Hooker, dated 1821 © RHS Library Collections

Find out more about RHS Libraries exhibitions and events at www.rhs.org.uk/libraryevents