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Core of gravity: Cider-makers buy sapling from Sir Isaac Newton’s apple tree
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree for relatives of Sir Isaac Newton, as some of his cider-making descendants have purchased a sapling from the apple tree which inspired the famous physicist’s law of gravitation.
The Wood family, who are direct descendants of English physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton, have purchased a sapling from the apple tree which inspired their ancestor’s law on universal gravity.
Conservation charity National Trust auctioned 10 saplings propagated from the famous apple tree, which can still be seen at his birthplace, Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, in partnership with Blue Diamond Garden Centres.
Giles Wood, a member of the family, said of the purchase: “As soon as the family heard about the Newton’s sapling auction, we just knew that we had to have one. Our family is descended from Sir Isaac’s sister, Hannah, so this was a marvellous opportunity to reach back into the history of our family.”
Wood and his kin own an apple farm near Beaminster, Dorset, and produce their own craft cider under the name Isaac Cider.
“We have a cider apple farm near Beaminster, West Dorset, and have been growing apples for 80 years, but concerned at the direction the production of cider was going, decided in 2020 to start our own family craft cider company. It had to be called Isaac Cider,” he said.
The 10 saplings raised over £30,000 at auction of which Blue Diamond is donating 50% to the National Trust, specifically for the ongoing care of Woolsthorpe Manor.
“We are thrilled to have a sapling and it will become the centrepiece of our shop at the farm and will enable us to educate more people on the life and works of our ancestor,” Wood said.
Andy Jasper, director of gardens and parklands at the National Trust, said: “Interest in the auction was phenomenal with Blue Diamond receiving more than 1,800 inquiries from potential bidders. It was wonderful to see that so many people and organisations understood the rarity of this moment and wanted to be custodians of such a significant tree.”