On 02/08/2020 10:43, april wrote:
I have an old apple tree - at least 40 years old.

It appears to be a cooking ( sour) apple. Is there any way of
finding out what variety it might be? Its a very large tree and is
full of fruit most years, but this year it has given a bigger
display than ever.

It fruits around mid August. It looks similar to a Bramley but the
fruit are not as big . The peel is green/ red. Pink blossom (doesnt
really look any different to any other apple tree).

Simplest way to get an ID is take a couple of representative fruit plus
a picture of the flowers and general shape of the tree along to a local
apple day in the Autumn. Unfortunately there may not be any this year

National Trust and English Heritage places often have such events with a
wide range of unusual locally grown apples on display and an expert on
hand at the weekends. Sometimes they get lucky and see a novel variety.

Experts visited a newly renovated walled garden near me to get samples
of rare old pear trees not previously known in cultivation.

I live in Cornwall. Would there have been a particular variety here?

A lot would have been cider apples.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown