With its distinctly rich heritage of apple cultivation it is surprising that Devon, unlike so many other counties, has not had a dedicated Pomona. Locally, so many apple varieties were cultivated for specific uses but many of these are being forgotten or lost.
In this book, the product of 35 years of research, the evolution of orchard production is explored, locally named varieties identified, and several apples, unique to Devon, located and described.
A Devon Pomona includes:
- A forward by pomologist and cider expert Liz Copas
- The evolving, historical story of Devonian apple cultivation
- Copiously illustrated descriptions of 90 native apples and those associated with Devon
- Specific qualities of Devon apples and their uses
- Local names, DNA identification, and synonyms
- Nurseries stocking traditional Devon apples
A Devon Pomona can be obtained in person at Orchards Live events, or you can purchase a copy online HERE for £18 plus £4 p&p per copy.
Lorna See, the Orchards Live Librarian, reviewed A Devon Pomona. You can read the review in the Summer 2026 issue of the Orchards Live newsletter, or below:
A Devon Pomona
of native and associated apples
At long last Devon has a Pomona to fill the gap between Cornwall and Somerset, written and published by our very own Jane and Peter Pay. This long-awaited book was launched at the OL Annual Gathering in June and it doesn’t disappoint.
Both the cover and layout seem very modern and fresh with plenty of colour photos of all the apple varieties we know and love alongside many more to pique our interest. Each variety has its own page with photos of its blossom and fruit both, whole and sectioned. Characteristics are listed under headings making it easy to dip into for a quick reference check or a more thorough read. Listings include all the usual ID checks such as shape, cavity, stem, russet, cropping, picking season etc alongside others such as synonyms, taste, aroma, storage, juice and cider qualities. A lovely comments section highlights any unusual interesting variety specifics.
Creating an authentic compendium of Devonshire apples has not been a straightforward task, which is borne out by the long list of synonyms in the index. Jane and Peter have undertaken extensive research for many years to unravel the mysteries and irregularities of our local varieties. The book highlights some of the problems encountered along the way alongside methods used, ranging from searching through historical texts right up to the use of modern DNA testing.
Their diligence has created a very readable and fact filled chapter, ‘Devon Apples’, incorporating the social history of local orchards. Here the shifting popularity of apples, the elusive Royal Wilding, the muddle of local names, and DNA anomalies, all feature. There is also a rather useful page for apple cider qualities.
There is a lot packed into this book with plenty of information both historical and modern, alongside the apple descriptions, it’s so much more than just a Pomona. It’s a great read and would be a lovely addition to any bookshelf.
Lorna See, Librarian