Hi, to methey look like the fruits of Chaenomeles, aand if so, they're just about palatable when they're cooked, but it is an aquired taste, Derek.

Quince fruits have lots of seeds in them, similar to an apple. If these had a single cherry stone in them, then they could be Mirabelle plums.

That was my thought to Owdb. though October is a little late!

We have some of these trees down the village and they drop their fruits onto the verge. Eat them, they are lovely!

They look a bit like my Malus golden hornet.....small crab apple

Not if they have a stone in the centre Pam

Oops didn't read it properly :0)

Was your brother in West Sussex at all? There are many 'hedge plums', as I call them, often growing near to roads around here ... I can remember gathering them when we were children and our Mum made a fantastic jam with them.

Would they be sloes Shirley?
fruit of the blackthorn

No sloes are a dark purple almost black in colour

I said that without moving my lips Pam ... lol!!!

I've seen enough sloes in my time that I felt no need to wait for you to reply Shirley. Bulba's father used to make sloe gin… yum!

You know I was jesting, Mg ... my paternal grandparents used to live in the Sussex countryside and Granny would make gin and/or wine from just about anything she could forage! Some of it made excellent drain cleaner after a few years fermenting!

Thanks for all replies even if some have gone off track into the sloe lane.

Sorry Mg, I meant Shirleys hedge plums were sloes not the ones in the photo :0)

Lol Barbara xxx