I don't suppose you could post a photo could you?
The 'blisters' could easily be normal cherry bark, which has marked horizontal lenticles. As for the rest, I'd be suspicious of the turfing process, especially if it involved any spray off of the existing weeds.
It's also been a very odd year weather wise in the UK, as you may have noticed
People will remember the torrential rain and flooding, but the late spring was notable for drought and unusually high temperatures. This could certainly have affected a tree which was stressed anyway as a result of root loss following the turfing.