Warden pear

'Black Worcester' Pear
'Worcester Black' Pears at Westbury Court Garden. The dull, purple-like skin gives the fruit a black appearance and hence the name
Genus	Pyrus
Species	Pyrus communis
Cultivar	'Black Worcester'

The Black Worcester pear (also known as 'Parkinson's Warden') is a cultivar of the European Pear (Pyrus communis), it may have come to UK via the Romans, but also has been used in Heraldry and around the city of Worcester. The dark fruit are mainly used for cooking or culinary uses.

It is thought it may have come to the UK, by the Romans and was first mentioned at the Cistercian built Abbey of Warden in Bedfordshire in the 13th century. It may also be linked to the French pear ‘de Livre’. 'Black Worcester' was recorded as being grown by monks at the Abbey as early as 1388. As long keeping fruit, it formed an important part of the winter diet until root-crops were introduced. The fruit is larger than average and the flesh hard and coarse, but is reported to be excellent when stewed. It may also have been used to make perry.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Worcestershire County Council created a 'Fruit Trees for Worcestershire' scheme, in which several hundred young black pear trees were planted. The cultivar is a tentatively accepted name by the RHS.

Pears formed part of the provisions of the troops at Agincourt in 1415, where Worcestershire bowmen carried banners depicting a pear tree laden with fruit. Michael Drayton's poem of the battle, notes “Wor’ster a pear tree laden with its fruit”.

On Queen Elizabeth I's visit to the city of Worcester in August 1575, the city authorities had a black pear fruit-laden tree transplanted to the Foregate from Whystone Farm, in her honour. So admiring was she of the good management that had allowed the fruit to remain unplucked that she ordered “3 pears sable” to be added to the city's coat of arms, which probably gave rise to the name "Black Worcester".

Up until 1956, the Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry have used an image of the pear blossom for badges. It is still used on the County Council and County Cricket Club badge.