Behind most of the old houses that line both sides of Piercy End (formerly known as Railway Street) you can still see the original pattern of burgage plots. The concept of burgage plots dates from mediaeval times and they are defined as a long narrow plot of land running at right angles from the street frontage in a town. They provided a means for the householders to grow food for themselves and supplement their income as well as pay ‘taxes’ to the lord of the manor. At some time in the early 1900’s a large orchard was planted which stretched across a number of the plots on the eastern side of Piercy End. Over the years most of these orchard trees have been removed and the remaining ones are reaching the end of their lives.

Piercy End Tree One was grafted from one of the remaining large old trees. It produces an abundant crop of large apples for cooking which store well but the flavour tends to mellow and sweeten in storage so they are pleasant as an eating apple in the early part of the new year.

Piercy End Tree Two was grafted from another of the remaining old trees. It is reported to be a variety called Ellison’s Orange which raised in Lincolnshire in the late 1800’s. The picking time is late September to October and the fruit has a very rich and distinctive flavour. It grows well in the drier parts of the north.