New Apple Trees Commemorate Monks of Abbey

TWO APPLE trees of the type originally grown by the monks at Arbroath Abbey in the 12th century were planted in the Abbey graveyard on Thursday morning.

The convener of Angus Council’s neighbourhood services committee, Jim Millar, performed the planting ceremony. Mr Millar is a former curator of the Abbey.

He said: “The Oslin was grown by the monks at Arbroath Abbey, and although rumours persist that some still grow in Arbroath, they appear to have died out. The Applegate, a street which leads off Arbroath’s High Street is where the orchard to the Abbey would have been, and the monks may have used them for dessert as well as cooking and making cider.

“This project brings back the Oslin to Arbroath Abbey, with which it was closely linked. An alternative name for the apple was the Arbroath Pippin, and I’m pleased that we are able to restore this variety to its original setting.” The tree planting project was led by the Arbroath Abbey World Heritage Campaign and the trees were purchased by Angus Council.

The Herald has been told that seven oslin trees were planted at Inverbrothock Primary School a few years ago by Mr Richard Burton of Angus College. We understand that Seaton cooking apples may also have been planted.

What we do not know is if the trees are still there. Mr Burton no longer works at the college, and the staff we have spoken to at the school are unsure of exactly where the trees were planted.

So if any reader can assist, we would be pleased to add those trees to the oslin census.