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Beauty of Bath apple

Beauty of Bath

Beauty of Bath is an attractive early-season English apple, hailing from the Victorian era.  It will ripen in mid-July in southern England.

Beauty of Bath was grown commercially in Victorian times because it was one of the earliest-ripening varieties then available, and it is a heavy-cropper with good disease resistance.  There is no commercial demand for this type of apple today because the market for apples in early summer in the northern hemisphere is dominated by high quality late-season varieties imported from the southern hemisphere.  Late season apples store and handle much better than early season varieties.  Indeed Beauty of Bath is best eaten straight from the tree, as it does not keep more than a day or so.  Although the flavour does not compare with later season apples, Beauty of Bath would have been a welcome sight in early August for the Victorian apple enthusiast, as the first sign of the new apple season.  Like most early varieties it is primarily quite a sharp flavour, but can be sweet if you catch it before it becomes over-ripe.

It is likely that Beauty of Bath is one of the parents of Discovery, probably the most famous English early-season apple.  This is historically likely, given that Beauty of Bath was grown quite widely in England, but another common characteristic of Discovery is the way the red skin bleeds into the white flesh - a characteristic also found in Beauty of Bath.

Beauty of Bath remains a popular garden apple variety in England, although somewhat eclipsed by the later summer apples such as Worcester Pearmain and Discovery.

Beauty of Bath apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Beauty of Bath
  • Beauty of Bath
  • Beauty of Bath

USDA identification images for Beauty of Bath

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Beauty of Bath

Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Offspring of this variety


Visitor reviews

  • 10 Jan 2024 
    Perhaps my climate, but stright off the tree - floury and acidic.
  • 13 Oct 2023 
    I have a Beauty of Bath tree in my allotment - planted by a previous owner. Had it identified at a local Apple Day. Lovely taste, but sadly don’t get many growing to a good eating size. Need to get pruning advice for the coming season!
  • 22 Sep 2022 
    Beauty of Bath was the first apple in my life. I was born in what is now Oxfordshire, and there was Beauty of Bath tree in the garden. When I was a kid I'd pick up a few from the ground, climb into a yew tree, and read and eat. Such a memory! I would love to get them, but I have lived in New York most of my life, and they don't seem to be grown here. W.G Sebald mentions them in passing in one of his books.
  • 17 Sep 2020  ENGLAND, United Kingdom
    My Beauty of Bath apple tree has now completely dropped it's harvest. We've had a net system around the base so that I could save them from getting bruised. It worked so well and the apples have lasted a lot longer. I think I must have gotten about 400 useable apples this year. Some were HUGE! I've made apple crumble, apple stew, apple compot, coronation apple chutney, apple & lavender jam, apple flapjacks, it's been amazing! The apples are so sweet you don't need to add sugar. My dad has loved them so much that he's even looking to now get a tree!
  • 30 Aug 2011  PERTHSHIRE, United States
    We have just harvested a box of Beauty of Bath apples from on old tree in the village and are planning to freeze the apples washed and whole in order to keep them for our apple pressing day in October. It has not been a good year for apples in Scotland but this particular tree which normally bears very little fruit has borne its largest crop for a number of years. Fascinating. Very pretty tree
  • 03 Aug 2011  CHIPPENHAM, United Kingdom
    We have a Beauty of Bath apple tree in our garden and this has been really useful to learn a bit more about it. Can anyone tell me when they are due for picking? It is the start of August and I've already got loads of apples falling off the tree, but they don't seem as big as last year. The tree was cut back earlier this year so I wasn't sure whether that would affect the size of the apples? Also, this site seems to be saying that the apples don't keep once picked - I take it this means they can't be put into storage? Any advice gratefully received!
  • 24 Mar 2011  TASMANIA, Australia
    Good website. I am the new manager of the old department of agriculture Heritage apple collection in Tasmania, Australia. At between 700 - 800 commercial and heritage lines it is the largest collection of Pome fruit in Australia.
  • 01 Jan 2010  United Kingdom
    Starter post

Tree register

United States

United Kingdom

France

Ireland

Australia

New Zealand

Switzerland

Spring blossom records for this variety

2022 season

  • 16th May  2022  - tree owned by Nick in Clashmore, United Kingdom
  • 16th May  2022  - tree owned by Nick in Clashmore, United Kingdom
  • 28th April  2022  - tree owned by Cathy in London, United Kingdom
  • 16th April  2022  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2021 season

  • 22nd April  2021  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2019 season

  • 18th April  2019  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2018 season

  • 19th April  2018  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2017 season

  • 10th April  2017  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2016 season

  • 7th May  2016  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2014 season

  • 3rd May  2014  - tree owned by Julene in Ballyshannon, Ireland
  • April  2014  - tree owned by Elizabeth in Barnet, United Kingdom

2013 season

  • August  2013  - tree owned by Jan in Fareham, United Kingdom
  • 15th May  2013  - tree owned by Jean in Martock, United Kingdom

2012 season

  • 5th May  2012  - tree owned by Wendy in Folkestone, United Kingdom
  • 27th April  2012  - tree owned by Remy in Buckingham, United Kingdom
  • April  2012  - tree owned by Graham in Coldstream, United Kingdom

2011 season

  • 8th May  2011  - tree owned by Peter in Bishops Stortford, United Kingdom
  • 21st April  2011  - tree owned by Wendy in Folkestone, United Kingdom
  • March  2011  - tree owned by Donna in Chippenham, United Kingdom
  • March  2011  - tree owned by Geoff in Deal, United Kingdom

2010 season

  • 12th May  2010  - tree owned by Wendy in Folkestone, United Kingdom
  • May  2010  - tree owned by Alan in Bristol, United Kingdom
  • 28th April  2010  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • April  2010  - tree owned by Geoff in Deal, United Kingdom

2009 season

  • May  2009  - tree owned by Alan in Bristol, United Kingdom
  • 19th April  2009  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom

Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


Harvest records for this variety

2022 season

  • 4th week August  2022  - tree owned by Nick in Clashmore, United Kingdom
  • 4th week August  2022  - tree owned by Nick in Clashmore, United Kingdom

2018 season

  • 3rd week July  2018  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2017 season

  • 1st week August  2017  - tree owned by Cathy in London, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week July  2017  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2016 season

  • October  2016  - tree owned by Katie in Duns, United Kingdom

2015 season

  • 4th week July  2015  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2014 season

  • 3rd week July  2014  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2013 season

  • 3rd week August  2013  - tree owned by DoorusOrchard in Kinvara, Ireland
  • August  2013  - tree owned by Jan in Fareham, United Kingdom

2012 season

  • September  2012  - tree owned by Graham in Coldstream, United Kingdom
  • 2nd week August  2012  - tree owned by DoorusOrchard in Kinvara, Ireland
  • 3rd week July  2012  - tree owned by Helmut in Neukirch, Switzerland
  • January  2012  - tree owned by Katrina in Nelson, New Zealand

2011 season

  • 3rd week July  2011  - tree owned by Peter in Bishops Stortford, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week July  2011  - tree owned by a in Tadcaster, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week July  2011  - tree owned by Helmut in Neukirch, Switzerland
  • July  2011  - tree owned by Geoff in Deal, United Kingdom

2010 season

  • September  2010  - tree owned by Donna in Chippenham, United Kingdom
  • 1st week August  2010  - tree owned by Alan in Bristol, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week July  2010  - tree owned by a in Tadcaster, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week July  2010  - tree owned by Helmut in Neukirch, Switzerland

2009 season

  • October  2009  - tree owned by Donna in Chippenham, United Kingdom
  • August  2009  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week July  2009  - tree owned by Alan in Bristol, United Kingdom

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
  • Originates from: Bath, Somerset, England, United Kingdom
  • Introduced: Late 19th century
  • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1966-146
  • Some historical details taken with kind permission from 'The New Book of Apples' by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards , illustrated by Elisabeth Dowle, published by Ebury Press, 2002.

Identification

  • Country of origin: United Kingdom
  • Period of origin: 1850 - 1899
  • Fruit colour: Red
  • Flower colour: White
  • Leaf colour: Green
  • Annual cycle: Deciduous

Using

  • Picking season: Very early
  • Keeping (of fruit): 1-3 days
  • Flavour quality: Good
  • Flavour style (apples): Sharper
  • Cropping: Heavy
  • Fruit persistence: Fruit drops when ripe
  • Food uses: Eating fresh
  • Picking period: early August
  • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

Growing

  • Gardening skill: Average
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Pollinating others: Average
  • Ploidy: Diploid
  • Vigour: Slightly large
  • Bearing regularity: Regular
  • Growth habit: Spreading / Flat-topped
  • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
  • Attractive features: Attractive fruit
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

Climate

  • Frost resistance of blossom: Some resistance
  • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
  • Climate suitability: Mild damp climates
  • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
  • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cold (< 20C / 67F)

Other qualities

  • Disease resistance: Good
  • Scab (Apple and Pear): Very resistant
  • Canker: Some resistance
  • Powdery mildew: Some resistance
  • Woolly aphid: Some resistance
  • Bitter pit: Some susceptibility

Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Beauty of Bath apple trees for sale:


Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Beauty of Bath:

United Kingdom


Australia




References

  • Apples of England (1948)
    Author: Taylor
  • Fruit Expert
    Author: Hessayon

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