| Re: Bee Boles
Skeps are made of twisted and plaited straw, and look like an upturned eggcup, about 12-15" tall with an entrance hole and a base. The bees build their own combs inside and fill them with honey. Each space in the bee bole had a skep in it. The bees were smoked out to obtain the honey and the skep broken open. There are regional patterns for skep=making.
There is a very large bole in Hartpury college in Glos. which came from a large estate; I have seen the one in Heligan and there is a small one in Ruskin's garden at Coniston, Lake District.
I was very interested in your picture. |