TODMORDEN - a day of unearthing history in Shore

There was one team of four (Catherine, Duncan, Kasher and RJ) out from Todmorden today. A number of jobs needed sorting out in Shore, above Cornholme.

1) Cutting back on Tod 070 by the Baptist Chapel (https://www.tod.me.uk/ and https://sites.rootsweb.com/~todmordenandwalsden/shorechapel_000.htm) and clearing the path to the impressive set of stone steps which go from the clough to the chapel.

2) Cutting back on Tod 062 from Bluebell Lane to the outdoor baptismal area below Shore Law, and revealing the baptismal area once again.

3) A number of minor tasks around Shore Green including a second coat of stain on Gerald's bench on Shore New Road.

Today's work party was funded by a kind donation from the Cornholme Wreath Making workshop held in December 2025. Many thanks for all you do to support CROWS in the Cornholme area.

The stone steps near Shore Baptist Chapel: the site of one of the work parties today.

The blue "pin" marks the site of the Shore Baptist Chapel outdoor baptismal area.

The Baptismal Area:

OK, we know its here somewhere . . . !

The first signs of the baptismal area . . . take care!

The stone steps are emerging...

More of the steps now in view and fallen stones
repositioned.

Catherine working on the stone bridge.

RJ at the top of the baptismal area which has now been
cleared.

Catherine at the end of a satisfying task.

The baptismal area and the bridge.

The baptismal area and the bridge (2)

The stone steps:

The path into the woods.

The wooden seat - now liberated from the 
raspberry canes and brambles!

The path by the side of Shore Baptist Chapel.

The top flight of stone steps.

A second coat:

Catherine giving Gerald King's bench a second coat
of preservative.

WADSWORTH

 Calderdale Way: Shawcroft Hill to Slackhouse Lane.

Kris, Nick and Paul were out on a much cooler day cutting back an overgrown path on a section of the Calderdale Way (Wadsworth 053 path).

Cutting back shrubbery and grasses on this stretch of path has become an annual event particularly at the bottom and top ends where foliage encroaches to such a degree that the pathway is difficult to negotiate.

Red line indicating pathway.

Work funded by Wadsworth Parish Council - thankyou for your ongoing support.

Top end

Overgrown Shrubbery blocking the pathway.

No way through!

We started at the top end and soon made headway with hedge trimmers and strimmer:

Shrubbery cleared:

A way through!

Following this we started at the bottom end by Shawcroft Cottages which was a tad overgrown!:

Lots of summer growth!

We cleared the pathway, and turn byes:

That's better!

Turn byes that run into the drainage channel on the wall side of the path were cleared out:

One of the cleared turn byes.

And steps cleared further up the path:

Nick and Kris at work.

Overall a satisfying day's work making this section of the Calderdale Way easierr for walkers to use.

PENNINE WAY AND CALDERDALE WAY AT COLDEN

Today was Day Three on this Pennine Way job. On Day 1 we cut back the path, began clearing the steps and replaced some rotten risers. On Day 2 we continued the cut back and cleared more steps in preparations for today's session which was to finish clearing the steps, doing more cutting back and re-stoning the tread areas. 

Nic, Jan, Jerry, Stella and Rich arrived to find a one tonne bag of 'crusher-run' delivered to the path by a local farmer - many thanks. 

This work was funded by a partnership between Natural England and Calderdale Highways. 

It was a warm day of . . . up and down the path . .  . with wheelbarrow, trugs, shovels, rakes and a heavy tamper. 

 

Very different to Day 1 when we arrived!

The second job we tackled was on the Calderdale Way where a very overgrown section was forcing people to deviate from the paved path. 

Before and after

 

Many thanks to Heptonstall Parish Council for funding this job. 
 

BLACKSHAW HEAD - cutting back on the Pennine Bridle Way

 CROWS have been contracted to cut back a number of stretches of the Pennine Bridle Way (PBW) in our patch.

Today, RJ and Kasher completed the last two sections which we needed to do for the 2026 season. First stop was the small section of the PBW near Land Farm (BS BW 012 - Sunderland Lane). Whilst there we also cut back the brambles along most of Dark Lane (BS FP 005).

We then moved onto the PBW section on BS BW 070. We often wonder why we always leave this long, steep section until late in the season. It's a hard job in this heat. We also regret having to cut back many of the blackberries which are now starting to fill. There will, however, still be plenty of fruit for people to gather.

Today's work on BS BW 070 and 012 was funded by Lancashire County Council on behalf of the Pennine Bridleway. Many thanks to all for your support in helping to keep open the footpaths and bridleways of the Upper Calder Valley.

The section of the PBW which was trimmed today is marked by the blue "pin".

The section of the PBW from Dove Scout down towards Jumble Hole.

The PBW near Land Farm (before).

Dark Lane 

The PBW near Land Farm (after).

The top of BS 070 near Dove Scout.

Cutting back along BS BW 070.

A hard to find PBW post.

The top of BS 070 (after).

RJ attacking the brambles.

DODD NAZE: Heavy-duty digging for a stile!

On an ever-warming summer's day, Ian S, Steve and Frank H worked on replacing a one-step stile on the right-of-way (Wadsworth 079) that forms part of the path that goes NE from Manor Drive (on the Dodd Naze estate) towards Sandy Gate Lane (see Map).

1. Worksite marked by blue 'pin'.

The problem:

The original stile looked like this:

2. View from Manor Drive side:

3. View from Field side:

This much overgrown one-step stile had a very long, partly rotten, sagging treadboard wedged at one end into a stone pillar 'keyhole' (picture 2) and supported at the other by a decayed step leg. 

Additionally the top-rail was far too high above the step treadboard, and the right-hand side-post (picture 3), which doubled as part of the stockfencing structure, had some evidence of decay.

The solution:

i)  Cut-back overgrowth

ii)  Brace the weak side-post with a vertical stob and a diagonal strut.

iii) Dig out the field-side step leg, dig a new hole for a Manor Drive-side step leg and install two new step legs to accommodate a slightly higher treadboard.

iv) Lower the top rail very slightly and embed 'take-off/landing stones to act as 'first' steps.

v)  Put a protective sleeve over the exposed barbed wire where it is attached to the right-hand side-post (picture 2).

Phew! Here's how the job went:

4. First tasks: Overgrowth cleared. Stile side-post
braced vertically and diagonally.

5. Out with the old: Decayed 
treadboard and step-leg removed

The excavation of holes for new step legs was a prolonged and very strenuous task. The remnants of the field-side leg were deeply and firmly buried. The new hole on the other side revealed remnants of two old legs also deeply and firmly buried! 

Two + hours later after much barring, digging, battering and the cunning use of hauling straps the old timbers were out and the new step-legs installed. Take-off/landing stones were embedded and the approach area to the stile was tidied.

6. In with the new i : Manor Drive side view.

7. In with the new ii : Field side view.

Today's job was funded by Calderdale Ramblers and General Donations to CROWS. Many thanks for your support. Enjoy using the stile.

Today was energy-sapping and a disproportionate amount of time (and effort) was expended before any progressive construction work could begin. It was a relief to finished the task and finally start ferrying tools and spare timbers back to the vehicle . . . but . . . 

8. "Hi Steve, Going right here instead of left is
the shortest way back to the vehicle . . ."
"Steve! Steve!, I said right not left . . . 
. . . Ah, well! Enjoy the walk! Mmm!"

 More in a week or two when it might be steps near Hebden Water. Good for a lunchtime paddle?