This exhibition has now finished

An Apple Gathering Part 1

Croft Castle, Herefordshire, England

22nd April – 5th November 2023

This year, the first exhibition of Apples & People will be opening at The National Trust’s Croft Castle, celebrating the diversity of the humble apple as it gathers meaning in many different art forms.

An Apple Gathering celebrates the importance of Herefordshire’s apple-growing history and explores the many ways the apple has rooted itself in culture. Throughout the year the castle, grounds, church, and walled garden orchard will be gradually transformed by stories of the apple told through art, music, sculpture and literature.

From this Spring, step into Croft’s historic apple orchard and feast your eyes and ears on orchard-inspired paintings and poems which bring to life the seasonality of the fruit.

Inside the house, listen to the evocative sounds of The Orchard Year, an immersive soundscape featuring music, poetry, spoken word, wassails and bird song.

Alongside the soundscape, a series of Wassail photographs by Bill Bradshaw explore the present-day celebrations of this ancient tradition.

This exhibition is part of the Apples & People programme, a partnership between the Brightspace Foundation, the Museum of Cider and the National Trust in Herefordshire.

Please note that normal National Trust admission fees apply to visit this exhibition at Croft Castle.

Listen to the evocative sounds of ‘The Orchard Year’ Soundscape

Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris - Pomona Tapestry Design 1884 Wightwick Manor © National Trust Images Derrick E. Witty

The Orchard

The Orchard at Croft Castle

Herefordshire’s traditional orchards are a huge part of the county’s heritage, and the area is well known for its fruit trees and cider. The orchards at Croft Castle support numerous mature specimens, including many Old Herefordshire varieties, such as Adam’s Pearmain, King’s Acre Bountiful, and Herefordshire Beefing.

The majority of the apple trees at Croft are thought to have been planted in the 1920s, judging by some of the archive photos. There is a collection of 60 mature specimens of around 30 cultivars. Old Herefordshire varieties at Croft include Adam’s Pearmain, Brown Snout, Doctor Hare, Downton Pippin, Gennet Moyle, King’s Acre Bountiful and Herefordshire Beefing.

In a field of about two acres near the farm at Croft there is a collection of very old apple trees, twisted with age but still productive. Some lie on their sides like wrecked ships and the smallish green apples with a red flush have an odd, somewhat ancient flavour of well-matured cider with a peppery aftertaste.

John Everett Millais, Spring Apple Blossoms 1856 Courtesy National Museums Liverpool, Lady Lever Art Gallery

John Everett Millais - Spring (Apple Blossoms) 1856-59, courtesy National Museums Liverpool, Lady Lever Art Gallery

Location

Croft Castle and Parkland

Croft Castle is a 17th century castellated manor house, home to the Croft family since 1085. The castle and estate passed out of their hands in the 18th century, before being repurchased by the family in 1923. In 1957 it was bequeathed to the National Trust.

Croft Castle contains many works of art and the large estate features many scenic walks including ancient trees, hill forts, restored valleys and woodlands.

The castle has many rooms including: The Hall, The gallery, The Dining Room, The Oak Room, The Blue Room, The Saloon, The Library, The Library Ante-Room and The Ambassador’s Room.

There are gardens, orchard, church, tea-room, parkland, second-hand bookshop and a children’s play area near the castle.

There are walks up onto the Iron Age hill fort of Croft Ambry. You can see some of the impressive collection of 300 veteran trees, including a 750 year old Candelabra Oak, a Spanish chestnut avenue dating back to the time of the Armada. Perhaps visit the picturesque ‘Fishpool Valley’ so loved by the Victorians and Edwardians.

For opening times and further information:

Visiting Croft Castle and Parkland on the National Trust website

Please note that normal National Trust admission fees apply to visit this exhibition at Croft Castle

This exhibition has now finished

An Apple Gathering Part 1

Croft Castle, Herefordshire, England

The Orchard

Location

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