The botanic gardens in Cambridge hosted an "Apple Festival" on Sunday. The poet and I popped by, requiring the payment of 5 pounds each in order to gain entry! They must have been raking it in too as the place was packed out. Lots of people in the marquees; and a 100 metre queue to get into the free apple tasting tent!
As it happened I had an apple with which to challenge the experts at the "identify your apple" area. One from a very old tree that I know well. The man needed to resort to the classification guide book, and even then it took a full 5 minutes for him to figure out an answer, so I presume that the variety in question is not all that common.
Apparently what we have here is a "Lane's, Prince Albert", developed in the Victorian era. Interestingly it starts off seemingly like a typical cooking apple, but if left long enough will ripen to be edible. I've been using them for a few years now as cookers, which they are excellent as; breaking down slowly to provide a tasty pie! Yum!
