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 CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
The relationship between man and bees is a long one and has
had a significant impact on local cultures and economies throughout
the world. Records of beekeeping date back at least to 2400
BC. By Roman times it was an established occupation, and thereafter
continued to be an important aspect of self-sufficiency up
to Victorian times. In Cumbria, the earliest records of beekeeping
date back to around 1650 but some form of apiculture was in
existence long before this.
Honey has been used as a resource for thousands of years.
From prehistoric times honey was the sole means of sweetening
food before the import of sugar in the 17th century. Because
of its natural antiseptic qualities it was also used for wound
dressings.
Beeswax, an important secondary product of beekeeping, was
primarily used to make candles. As a valuable commodity, beeswax
was often taken as a tithe by the local church, abbey or manor
house for candles, while the humble beekeeper made do with
tapers made of tallow (rendered animal fat). Nowadays, beeswax
is used as a furniture polish and in cosmetics.
HONEY PRODUCTION
Honey is produced from nectar, a sweet liquid secreted by
flowers to attract pollinating insects. The nectar is collected
by forager bees and stored in honey sacs in their abdomens.
When the bee returns to the hive the nectar is passed on to
worker bees. These mix the nectar with enzymes and deposit
it in hexagonal cells to allow any water to evaporate. Once
the enzymes are added and the water content reduced, the nectar
becomes honey. The bees then cap the honey cells with beeswax,
a substance secreted from special wax glands in their abdomens.
Bees store honey as a food supply on which they live during
the winter months when less nectar is available from plants,
and usually produce more honey than they need, enabling the
beekeeper to remove some of the surplus. On average, a hive
will yield around 11 kg (25 lb) of honey a year and up to
27 kg (60 lb) in a good year!
New colonies are created by swarming, usually triggered by
lack of space in the hive. In the spring or early summer,
the old queen leaves the nest with thousands of worker bees.
The swarm flies to a nearby bush or tree and forms a tight
cluster around the queen, then waits while scout bees search
out potential new nest sites. In the old nest, one of the
new queens will kill off her rivals, briefly emerge to mate
and then start egg laying. Early swarming is encouraged because
it allows sufficient time for new hives to establish and start
producing honey. By mid summer, there is less time left to
build up new stores of honey. Thus, the old saying:
A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay
A swarm of bees in June
Is worth a silver spoon
A swarm of bees in July
Isn't worth a fly!
 Historically,
the swarm of bees was often collected and put into skeps (upturned
straw baskets) that sat on stone or wooden shelves. However,
to gain access to the honey, the bees had to be killed either
by drowning, or suffocation by sulphur fumes or smoke. The
combs of honey were then cut out of the skep and either eaten
as found or strained through a cloth bag. The honey that came
through first was the best quality. What was left was put
into water and fermented to make mead. Finally the wax was
melted down, strained and made into candles.
It wasn't until the invention of the movable-frame hive in
1851 that the combs of honey could be extracted without sacrificing
the bees.
Cumbrian honey is derived from many different forage plants,
depending on the locality. One of the most prized honeys comes
from heather on the fells. In Ennerdale it was the custom
to take hives up to the heather-rich fells in late summer
(when the heather was in flower) 'for the bees to get strength
and sustenance before winter time' (The Lake Country, Elizabeth
Lynn Linton, 1864). A wall at Revelin Fell is called Bee Wall
End and it was here that the hives were placed, allowing the
bees ready access to the surrounding heather. The resultant
honey was said to be the best for miles around.
Nowadays, most honey is produced by hobby beekeepers for
personal use, but surplus amounts can often be found in local
shops, at farmers' and WI markets or sold directly by the
beekeeper.
EVIDENCE OF BEEKEEPING IN CUMBRIA
'Principio sedes apibus statioque petenda'
['First find your bees a safe home']
Virgil (Georgics IV, c. 30 BC)
Historically, most farms would keep a hive or two to provide
the household with honey for sweetening food and wax for candles.
Beekeeping was a necessary part of the need for self-sufficiency,
and beehives are often mentioned in inventories from the 18th
century onwards. Any surplus of honey or beeswax was often
traded for money and other goods.
Before the invention of the modern hive, straw skeps were
used to keep bees. Without protection from the rain these
skeps would quickly rot away, so they were often placed in
stone recesses in walls (called bee boles). Cumbria has more
surviving bee boles than any other county. Throughout the
Fells and Dales area it is these now empty stone niches that
provide tangible evidence of a formerly widespread occupation.
Bee boles were usually built in walls facing south or south-east
for two main reasons:
1. A south or south-east aspect provided some protection
against the prevailing south-westerly winds.
2. The early morning sun encouraged the forager bees to venture
out earlier in the day. This helped to build up the honey
stores and allowed the bees to swarm earlier and establish
new colonies.
'the bees' dwelling places … ought to be so
arranged as to face the south-east, in order that
the bees may enjoy the sun when they go out in the
morning and may be more wide-awake; for cold begets
sloth.'
(Columella, De re rustica, c. 50 AD)
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The heyday of bee bole construction was probably in the 17th
and 18th centuries, but some date from earlier than this.
The recesses were usually in a wall near the property, often
within a garden or an orchard so that the bees had a ready
source of nectar and could help to pollinate the trees. In
Cumbria, virtually all bee bole recesses are square or rectangular
- the width being determined by the length of the supporting
lintel. Usually there are two or more, built in a single line
or tiered one above another. Where the ground was sloping,
the recesses were sometimes built in a stepwise fashion following
the slope of the ground.
Bee shelters are less common. They were built to house several
skeps under one sturdy structure for protection and warmth.
Cumbria contains more than half the total number of bee shelters
in England, presumably because in this area they tended to
be built of stone and not wood.
The Furness area of Cumbria is where the greatest concentration
of bee boles and bee shelters lies. The production of honey
and beeswax here must have been considerable. Not only was
the milder climate more favourable for beekeeping, but the
proximity of Furness Abbey and the priories at Conishead and
Cartmel meant that there was a ready market for large quantities
of beeswax for candles and honey for mead.
BEE BOLE BUMBLE
Many bee bole and bee shelter structures exist in Cumbria,
but most are on private land or are difficult to find.
The following examples demonstrate the range of bee structures
that can be found. All can be viewed from public footpaths
or roads, but always ask permission before venturing onto
private land.
- Raw Head, Great Langdale (grid ref: SD 304 067)
2 prominent bee boles (one above the other) are built into
the end wall of a house, now used as a climbing hut.
- Stang End, Little Langdale (grid ref: SD 319 028)
Restored set of 6 bee boles in a wall opposite the house.
- Holme Ground, Tilberthwaite, nr Coniston (grid
ref: SD 311 012)
A series of stepwise bee boles in a sloping garden wall
viewable from the road.
 Boon
Crag, Coniston (grid ref: NY 316 983)
A series of 4 bee boles in an end wall can be clearly seen
from an adjacent footpath.
- Hill Top Farm at Near Sawrey, Hawkshead, (grid
ref: SD 370 955)
Two bee boles and a bee shelter can be seen in the kitchen
garden. The traditional hive and the bee shelter were illustrated
by Beatrix Potter in The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck. Tel:
015394 36269 for opening times.
- Bank Ground, Coniston (grid ref: SD 316 971)
4 bee boles in a wall near to the house can be viewed from
the public footpath that skirts the edge of the property.
- Brantwood, Coniston (grid ref: SD 313 957)
A single bee bole is located in a corner of the Zig-Zaggy
garden. Further along in the Professor's Garden is a reconstructed
bee shelter on the site of the former 'penthouse' that used
to house John Ruskin's bees. Tel: 015394 41396 for opening
times.
- The Hill, Heathwaite, nr Kirkby-in-Furness (grid
ref: NY 244 869)
A series of bee-boles in a south-facing wall can be seen
from the public footpath that runs through the farm. There
are more bee boles and the remains of a bee shelter in the
walled garden, but these are not accessible without permission.
The Hill has the highest concentration of bee boles attached
to one property in Cumbria - production of honey here must
have been on a commercial scale!
- Tenterbank, Grizedale, Kirkby-in-Furness (grid
ref: NY 238 858)
3 bee boles in the end wall of a lean-to extension, easily
viewed from the public footpath that runs alongside the
farm buildings. The footpath leads to more bee boles at
The Hill at Heathwaite.
If you know of other bee boles or bee-related structures
in Cumbria, please contact IBRA - see Useful Contacts.
MAKE A BEELINE FOR ...
Mirehouse and its walled bee garden. The garden contains
plants and shrubs that provide good sources of nectar and/or
pollen for bees. The hives can be seen but are sectioned off
to public access. In front of the hives is an impressive stone
inscription bearing the words 'Principio sedes apibus statioque
petenda' - see translation overleaf. A separate herb garden
is laid out in a honeycomb design and, nearby, four bee bole
recesses can be spotted in the south-facing wall.
Mirehouse, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4QE
Tel/Fax: 017687 72287
Email: info@mirehouse.com
Website: www.mirehouse.com
Hazel Dene Garden Centre also has an observation hive
run by Penrith Beekeeping Association. This is located in
a shed adjacent to the tearoom and contains displays on beekeeping.
Hazel Dene Garden Centre, Culgaith, Penrith, Cumbria,
CA10 1QF
Tel: 01768 88252
Gleaston Water Mill, which has an indoor observation
hive operated and maintained by Furness and District Beekeepers,
along with an interesting audio-visual presentation on bees
and honey. A short distance away is an apiary, where lessons
in beekeeping are given every Saturday morning during the
summer months (weather dependent). Children are welcome and
protective clothing is available. Contact David Johnson for
further details (tel: 015394 41319).
Gleaston Water Mill, Gleaston, nr Ulverston, Cumbria,
LA12 0QH
Tel: 01229 869244
Email: info@watermill.co.uk
Website: www.watermill.co.uk
DID YOU KNOW?
 The
Latin name for the honey bee is Apis mellifera -
'mellifera' meaning 'honey carrier'.
- A queen bee can lay up to 2000 eggs per day in the summer
for up to two years!
- Once hatched, worker bees start life as house-keepers
and cleaners before becoming nurse bees looking after the
young larvae. Then they secrete wax to build honeycomb cells.
Subsequently they are carriers of nectar from the forager
bees to the storage cells. The next stage is to act as a
guard bee before becoming a forager bee - and all within
the 6 weeks of a summer bee's life!
- Bees travel up to 1½ miles away from the hive at
a rate of 15 mph in search of nectar!
- Bees fly about 55,000 miles (or 1½ times around
the world) to make just one pound of honey!
- Romans used honey instead of gold to pay their taxes!
- Honey contains small amounts of hydrogen peroxide that
is slowly released and kills off any invading bacteria -
a natural antiseptic!
- Corpses were sometimes covered in honey as a means of
preserving them until they could be buried!
- During the Crusades, bees were used as a weapon of warfare.
Invading enemies were bombarded with skeps of bees, creating
havoc among the horses and men.
- When a beekeeper died, the bees had to be informed of
the death - known as 'telling the bees' - otherwise the
family would suffer bad luck!
LIVE BEE SHOWS AND HONEY EVENTS
Beekeeping demonstrations can be seen throughout the summer
at the following venues:
 April
Damson Day, Lyth Valley
May
Furness Beekeepers' Spring Convention, Malt Kiln, Bardsey,
nr Ulverston.
Talks and demonstrations on bee keeping.
June
Sedbergh Beekeepers' Summer Convention, Sedbergh
July
Lakeland Rose Show,
Westmorland Showground, Kendal
August
North Lonsdale Show, Ulverston
Gosforth Show, Gosforth
Keswick Show, Keswick. Held August Bank Holiday.
September
Cumbria Beekeepers' Autumn Convention, Braithwaite, Keswick
October
Apple Day, Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby
Cumbria Beekeepers' Autumn Conference and Honey Show, Keswick
Note: Prebooking is advised for the conventions and conference.
USEFUL CONTACTS
The local beekeeping associations are always keen to attract
new members, and offer plenty of support to beginners along
with practical lessons in beekeeping. If you are interested
in taking up beekeeping, contact your local association or
the National Beekeeping Centre.
British Beekeepers' Association
National Beekeeping Centre, National Agricultural Centre,
Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG.
Tel: 02476 696679
Email: bbka@britishbeekeepers.com
Website: www.britishbeekeepers.com
Cumbria Beekeepers' Association
Stephen Barnes, 8 Albemarle St, Cockermouth, CA13 0BG.
Tel: 01900 824872
Email: borderer@aol.com
Carlisle Beekeepers' Association
Angela Addison
Tel: 01228 670027
Email: backacre_607@hotmail.com
Beginners' courses in beekeeping.
Cockermouth Beekeepers' Association
Mr W Mackereth, 6 Whiteside Avenue, Cockermouth, CA13 9AR
Tel: 01900 825188
Furness Beekeepers' Association
David Walmsley, Mount View, 36 Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9
7HH
Tel: 01539 721501
Email: david@highdixon.freeserve.co.uk
Beginners' courses in beekeeping.
Kendal and South Westmorland Beekeepers' Association
Roger Blocksidge, Castle Garden Cottage, Aynam Road, Kendal,
LA9 7DE
Tel: 01539 734436
Keswick Beekeepers' Association
Sandra Wallace, Spooney Green, Keswick, CA12 4PJ
Tel: 017687 72601
Email: spooneygreen@beeb.net
Practical demonstrations given to beginners.
Penrith Beekeepers' Association
David Bates, Greenfield House, Low Green, Temple Sowerby,
CA10 1SD
Tel: 017683 61068
Email: DaveB@xephon.com
Beginners' courses in beekeeping.
Sedbergh and District Beekeepers' Association
Malcolm Fraser-Urquhart, Lingarth, Borrett, Sedbergh, LA10
5HL
Tel: 015396 21902
Email: mfraserurquhart@btinternet.com
Guidance and instruction given to beginners.
Whitehaven Beekeepers' Association
Val Sullivan, Brackenwray Farm, Kinniside, Cleator, CA23 3AG
Tel: 01946 862605
Email: brackenwray@aol.com
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS
The International Bee Research Association (IBRA)
maintains a register of bee boles and other beekeeping structures.
If you know of any bee boles or other structures that may
have been used for housing bees, please contact IBRA, c/o
Woodside House, Woodside Hill, Gerrard's Cross, Bucks, SL9
9TE
The Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA) gives advice
on restoration of bee boles and has a leaflet about bee boles,
which includes a form for recording bee structures.
Contact DSWA, Westmorland County Showground, Lane Farm,
Crooklands, Milnthorpe, LA7 7NH.
Tel: 015395 67953.
Website: www.dswa.org.uk.
GETTING AROUND
For details on public transport, please contact Traveline
on 08700 608 2608.
Email: info@traveline-cumbria.co.uk.
Website: www.traveline.org.uk.
CREDITS
Produced by Anna Gray for Leader+ (Cumbria Fells & Dales)
Designed by Andrew Lathwell Design Ltd.
Illustrated by Juliet Whitworth.
Printed by Reeds of Penrith, 2005.
Front cover photographs by Anna Chambers, Claire Waring and
Stephen Dalton (NHPA).
Other photographs supplied by Val Corbett, Stephen Appleby,
Mike Hart and Anna Gray.
LEADER+ (Cumbria Fells & Dales)
The Old Stables,
Redhills,
Penrith,
Cumbria,
CA11 0DT
Tel: 01768 869533
Email: info@fellsanddales.org.uk
Website: www.fellsanddales.org.uk
Fells and Dales LEADER+ Programme is based at Voluntary Action
Cumbria, a company limited by guarantee, Charity No. 1080875,
Company No. 3957858.
This is one of a series of themed trails being produced
by LEADER+ (Cumbria Fells & Dales) to promote the area
and its local products.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the content
of this trail is accurate and up to date at the time of writing,
no liability can be accepted for any errors, omissions or
misrepresentations of fact contained herein.
 
This project is being part financed by the European Agriculture
Guidance adn Guarantee Fund of the European Union and the
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs through
the Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER+ Programme.
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