RESPONSIBLE for Newton's theory of gravity and for the banishment of Adam and Eve from Eden, there is more to the common apple than meets the eye.

To give the humble fruit the praise it deserves, Clive's Fruit Farm in Upton threw open the orchard gate as part of National Apple Weekend.

There were apple games, apple cookery and plenty of apples to pick and eat fresh from the tree.

The Clive family has been growing apples for 100 years and produces 19 varieties, proving there are more to choose from than the common Granny Smith and Golden Delicious.

Jane Clive said they try to grow as many English varieties as possible and are always on the lookout for something new.

"People often haven't heard of a lot of these apples and once they have discovered a certain variety, they try and find it elsewhere, often without success," she said.

"We also get a lot of people who want to find some of the old varieties they remember, like Kidd's Orange Red and Lord Lambourne. We're always keen to add new varieties but a lot aren't commercially viable now."

The history of the apple in Europe dates back to 55BC when the Romans introduced them to France and England.

The Pippin was brought over from France during Henry VIII's reign and planted in an orchard in Kent. During the 17th and 18th Centuries, the most widely grown apples were Golden Pippins.

The Royal Horticultural Society encouraged greater exchange of ideas from other countries during the 19th Century and new varieties started to appear.

Since the Second World War, Golden Delicious from America and Granny Smith from Australia have dominated but, fortunately for growers of Cox's Orange Pippin, the favourite English variety cannot be successfully produced outside of Northern Europe.