Calderdale Way: dilapidated 'mini-gate'
On a day enlivened by sharp, sudden, cold showers, Jan and Frank H worked on replacing a 'mini-gate' where the Calderdale Way footpath (Halifax 135) goes over a stile comprising stone wall-steps topped with a 'mini-gate' before descending to continue as a bridleway (Halifax 113) in the direction of the Moorcock Farm (known locally as the old Moorcock Inn).
Today's work will be funded by a donation from the landowner. Many thanks for supporting CROWS.
 |
| 1. Worksite indicated by blue 'pin'. |
 |
| 2. Aerial view! |
The detail.
The 'stile' has seen heavy use by enthusiastic 'Calderdale Way' walkers and runners, so now it looks like this:
 |
| 3. Before: View from track (bridleway) side. |
 |
| 4. Before: View from field side. |
The mini-gate is ramshackle and is fixed by T-hinges to a 'round' post.
The plan was to remove the whole structure and install a replacement pedestrian gate T-hinged to a square-section post and fitted with a closure spring and a closure loop.
The drystone wall to the left of picture 4 has a castellated top but the section to the right is more haphazard! However, this section (on the closure side of the gap) is stable so will be left untouched.
The existing 'round' gatepost will be re-embedded to form a 'stop-post' that prevents the gate from swinging too far back on its hinges. This post and the new hinge post will be linked by short side-rails and, to enhance stability, the new post will be bracketed to the wall.
Phew! Time to start digging . . .
 |
| 5. "Keep digging, Jan." - Longer arms are available! |
 |
6. Field side view: New hinge-post deeply embedded. New gate hung on T-hinges and fitted with closure loop. |
 |
7. Field side view: Hinge-post fitted with one of the side-rails which is bracketed to the wall. |
 |
8. After: View from track (bridleway) side. The right-of-way direction is shown by the public footpath disk. |
 |
9. After: View from field side. Re-cycled 'stop-post' side-railed to new hinge-post. Closure spring fitted and a closure loop (anchored to top stone) goes over a gate paling. |
We were pleased with the outcome. The hinge-post is very secure and stable. The mini-gate is robust and poses no problems to users of the stile. The Calderdale Way direction (clockwise route) is shown by the existing metal fingerpost which directs walkers towards Moorcock Farm where CROWS have painted the tops of the existing waymarkposts bright yellow . . . no chance of getting lost! Mmm!