Costard (apple)
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The costard was a variety of apple popular in medieval England, and the second apple-variety (after the pearmain) introduced by the Normans. It was grown widely as a commercial crop by the 13th century and was supplied to the household of Edward I in 1292. It remained widespread for several hundred years, until other apple varieties gained popularity during the 17th century. It is thought to have been a cooking apple and was perhaps similar to the modern Bellflower apple. It is said[citation needed] to have been named for its resemblance to the human head (for which "costard" was another (later)[1] term).
The first known named English apple variety was the pearmain which was first mentioned in 1204, having been introduced by the Normans.[2][3] The costard is the second known variety introduced by the Normans and was commonly grown as a commercial crop in the 13th century.[3][4][2] It is mentioned, by the name "Poma Costard", in a fruiterer's bill for Edward I in 1292.[5] In 1296 100 costard apples could be bought in Oxford for one shilling and in 1325 29 costard trees could be purchased for three shillings.[2] The monks of Reading Abbey were entitled by one agreement to an annual payment of "unum pomum costard" (one costard apple), possibly an example of a Peppercorn payment.[6]
The costard apple remained one of the best known and most famous of British apple varieties for several hundred years.[7] The costard and pearmain varieties were the only ones popularly grown in Britain until the 17th century.[8] The costard is said to have long fallen out of favour by the 20th century.[9] It is described as "not known" in the United Kingdom in a report of 1830 and as "now appears to be extinct" in 1967.[9][10]
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