High Rough ... and a rough stile!
Paul, Frank H and Billie (trainee stile-ist) worked on a stile near High Rough just above Height Road.
Here's the 'before' picture:
The stile:
*has lost its steps
*has a tall side-upright which has rotted through at the base and sagged so the cross-rails are no longer horizontal
*is poorly aligned with the rickety fence to the left.
*is narrow and, even for an athletic CROW, very difficult to climb over!
Fortunately, we had a plan ... which actually worked!
Here's a 'work in progress' picture:
*The old, tall side-upright and the cross-rails have been removed.
*The stile width has been increased and the replacement side-upright dug in deeply. Good effort, Paul, given that very rocky ground!
*Two step legs for the new stile are in place. Good effort from Billie who must have been working near her physical limit.
*Fortunately, the rain that was forecast never appeared so we stayed dry . . . and the breezy conditions stopped us from over-heating! Hooray!
Here's an 'end of session' picture:
A decent example of a two-step stile,
*Side-uprights are vertical and parallel.
*Steps are 'standard height' i.e. 300 mm up on to the first step. Another 300 mm up to the second step and a further 450 mm to the top rail.
*step legs have been cross-braced for extra stability (difficult to spot in picture).
*Cross-rails are horizontal with narrower spacings for the lower rails.
* The barbed wire has been re-strung but any barbs near the side-upright have been removed.
*The fence post to the left has been stabilised with a diagonal brace.
* A flat, stone take-off platform has been dug in at the approach to the stile
This was a long, energy-sapping session because there was a lot to do and the ground was very resistant. However, the stile is secure, safe, durable, easily negotiated . . . and not unpleasing to the eye.
Today's work was possible because of a donation of materials from High Rough and funding from local residents. Many thanks.
