TODMORDEN - Blackshaw Head, Ashenhurst & New Towneley

There were three teams out today.

Team 1:

Frank S and Mick went first to Hippins Bridge below Blackshaw Head to repair the footbridge 100 m upstream of the road bridge. Here's the work in progress with one new cross-tread in place and two more to go.

Then we went a km or so uphill to the walled track near Harleywood Gate to tackle the drainage. The bog just above the path was spreading across the path and making walking very difficult. We dug drains along the upper wall to intercept the water and directed it across the path and under the lower wall. Here's one view, showing where we had to dismantle part of the wall and rebuild it with a hole to pass the water.

There were three drains in all. Here's the second one where the mud is much redder in colour.

And here's the third drain. 

When the ground dries out it'll be much easier to walk along the path, and the plantation of willow saplings just below the path will thrive with all the extra water coming through.

This work was funded by donations to CROWS.

Team 2:

Stile at Ashenhurst:

Last week Fred and RJ replaced the side-uprights. Today's work was to replace the legs and treads on this 2-step stile. Cross rails were re-used from the original stile.

Funding for this work above Ashenhurst was received from Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks.

Ashenhurst stile before work started.

Ashenhurst stile - renovated! 

Team 3:

Stile at Robinwood

Frank H and Kasher were working on a stile several contour lines below New Towneley Farm on a beautiful but precipitous path (Todmorden 072) that runs diagonally down the hillside above Lydgate.

Here's the problem:

An old stile with widespread rot.

e.g. Core of leg is deeply rotted as is
 the tread-board. The other end is worse!

Work in progress. New legs in place.

Treadboard fixed and new
cross-rails in place.

This job involved a long carry of tools and materials on a steep path. Fortunately the route was downhill. Some aspects of the work, especially the alignment and levelling of the step legs, were unusually time consuming. However, we persevered and could eventually give the stile its 'test drive'. . . 

Elegance personified!

There's only one snag with a downhill carry at the start  . . . it's a long uphill haul at the end! Anyone got the phone number for Stannah stairlifts!