The 'Black Worcester' tree at the USDA genebank does not match the descriptions below and is almost certainly misidentified. Origin uncertain, but one of the oldest pears in cultivation. Appears on the coat of arms of Worcester and was grown there before 1575 when Queen Elizabeth I saw it at Whystone Farm. Possibly the same as French cultivar 'de Livre' and may even date from Roman times. Tree vigorous, spreading, reliable and heavy cropping. Fruit never softens for dessert use, needs clow cooking for 1-2 hours. Many plants still exist in England. -- Arbury 1997
Also known as the "Black Pear of Worcester" or "Parkinson's Warden". The name "Pound " has been applied to a number of varieties, notably Black Worcester, Angora, Verulam, and others. The variety now known as Pound in America is more generally known in Europe as Belle Angevine or Uvedale s St. Germain. -- Hedrick, 1921
The Romans cultivated a Pound Pear during the first century of the Christian era. In 1652 Claude Mollet describes a Pound Pear. Several subsequent writers describe the same pear as Livre, De Livre, or Poire de Livre. In Worcester, Eng., in the sixteenth century a pear known as Black Worcester, Black Pear of Worcester, or Parkinson's Warden came under general cultivation as a " Warden " or baking pear of which it forms the type. These two pears appear to be identical. Mas makes Black Worcester a synonym of De Livre, Hogg states that they very much resemble each other, the authors of Guide Pratique de I'Amateur de Fruits list them as synonymous, and Bunyard says that he believes that they are almost certainly identical. Black Worcester is retained as the name of the variety because it is now most commonly used. Tree vigorous, hardy, bears well as a standard; young shoots dark yellow-olive, diverging; branches inclining ownward with the weight of the fruit. Fruit large, obovate; skin thick, green, rough, nearly covered with dark russet, occasionally with a dull tinge next the sun; calyx small, nearly closed, set in a wide and rather deep basin; stem about an inch long, very stout, woody, inserted without depression; flesh pale yellow, hard, crisp, coarse, flavorless, rather gritty; a good cooking pear; Nov. to Feb. -- Hedrick 1921