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Grumpy_Git-
Even southern England didn't really have the climate to guarantee ripe fruit every year, of the species that survived the last Ice Age at much more southern latitudes. Hence the concerted efforts of those, (in the UK in the Georgian & Victorian eras), with the land, money & time to develop varieties better suited to the UK's weather.
mespilus
Damsons, and other unimproved fruits, medlar being the most obvious example, tend to take the whole Summer, and Autumn, to fully ripen.
Given the rain and lower temperatures of July, many fruit are behind the schedule indicated by our scorchio June.
The figs on our tree stalled through July, and despite being upto size by the end of June, have taken this week's temperatures to ripen to eatability.
tldr: Damsons; seldom ripe until mid September.