The village of Frampton (Winterborne) Magnum in South Gloucester used to grow a plum commercially that was considered a seedling of Magnum Bonum, unique to the village, it was characterised by its mass of white blossom, which made it very ornamental in spring. A map of 1935 shows orchards of this plum scattered all over the village. Robertsons of Bristol used it for their jam manufacturing and it was also sold in the town’s shops.
I learnt this when, 7 years’ ago, I was working on the Brogdale Horticultural Trust’s Helpline when I received a phone call, asking whether there was a tree in the National Fruit Collections, which unfortunately there was not. The orchards of past years had unfortunately succumbed to the increasing need to build homes and by then, only one orchard was left, which had just received planning permission for housing.
I have now learnt that the village has planted a Community Orchard, in which they hope to add a tree of the Frampton Magnum, if one can be found. Unfortunately there are no records of the characteristics of this variety, so identification would be difficult, but if a reader knows of the existence of one, the village would be delighted. Any information will be passed to the orchard manager.
Howard Stringer
