Midgehole: revetment on riverside path
A day of high humidity for a gang of five CROWS, Nick, Ginny, Rich, Ken and Frank H, to refurbish the revetment on this popular riverside path near the Blue Pig. The old revetment had deteriorated and parts of the path were in danger of slipping into Hebden Water.
Here's how the day went:
1. Timber delivered by the ever-reliable CALVAG
These are about half of the revetment rails we will need. A typical rail is 3.6 m x 100 mm x 50 mm.
We also need four anchoring stobs per rail. These are pre-cut and pointed in the CROWS' depot. 'Standard' stobs are 0.6 m in length with longer ones at 0.9 m available for weaker ground.
2. Carry of timber to the worksite.
Good technique, guys. No attempts to carry too much. Timber comfortably balanced and a safe gap between carriers.
3. Preparatory work.
A line is laid and a narrow channel scraped out to receive the revetment rail. We don't always use a line but for a long 'run' of revetment it is useful to avoid the 'dog's hind leg' look!
4. Start on the revetment work.
The general sequence is;
*Line up the rail.
*Make a pilot hole for one of the end stobs.
*Drive in the stob.
*Nail temporarily with one nail.
*Check the positioning of the rail
*Fit the stob at the other end.
*Fully nail the rail to both stobs.
*Add two equally spaced intermediate stobs and nail the rail.
5. Widening and levelling the path.
Paths such as these become narrower as one edge crumbles into the river and the other edge is filled by 'washdown' from the banking above.
Getting the path wider and level is nearly always much harder work than you think it is going to be!
6. Work in progress.
Where possible on this revetment we have linked the adjoining butt ends of the rails together with a short length of 'overlap' timber. (sorry, no picture of this)
These overlaps help with the overall alignment of the rails and add considerably to the structural strength.
7. End of the day.
Despite the humidity, the battalions of flies, the buckets of sweat and the high demands on energy, we were pleased with the final outcome.
There is more to do on this right-of-way. Further revetment will be installed and some general landscaping is needed. A second session will be planned.
Today's task was funded by the Blue Pig and by other donations. We are still short of funding to complete the job, so if you wish to make a
donation, it can be made through JustGiving or through the CROWS website
