BLACKSHAW HEAD: Bullion Farm

Bullion Farm: Stile 3 and Stile 4

Another day, with a murky morning but a gradually improving afternoon, for Ken, Andrew and Frank H to work on two Calderdale Way stiles that are on the right-of-way (Blackshaw 058) that runs from Bullion Farm down towards Hippins.

Morning Session: stile 3

While Frank tidied up the stockfence near stile 2 which was completed on Wed, Ken and Andrew started the partial dismantling of stile 3.

1. Down-slope view of
work in progress

Here's the plan:

*The original left-hand upright is stable and firmly anchored to the wall. We decided not to remove this although, unfortunately, it is slightly out of true!

*The right-hand upright (also out of true) is rotten and will be replaced.

*Cross-rails will be run from left to right and on towards the farm wall (out of picture).

*A dog-gate with lift rail will be fitted.

*A new wider treadboard will be installed to replace the old one which sags alarmingly under the weight of any heavy walker!

2. New cross-rails being installed.

3. Job done: Up-slope view of the single,
diagonal-step stile with dog-gate.

Afternoon session: Stile 4

While Frank was installing the dog-gate and lift rail to stile 3, Ken and Andrew started work on Stile 4. Such was their enthusiasm, that no 'before' pictures were taken! However, the stile uprights were sound (but out of true) so the main task was to carry out some stabilising work, replace the short and rotten cross rails with new longer (and horizontal) versions, install a dog-gate and add staple grips to the existing treadboard.

1. Work in progress: installing new cross-rails.

2. Even more cross-rails!

3. Improved stile with dog-
gate being fitted

4. Job done: stable, dog-friendly
end product!

Repairing stiles where new materials have to be fitted to sound, immovable but out-of-true original timbers is always a tricky job. Sometimes it would be easier to renew everything but this is a costlier and time consuming exercise. 

Today's work was funded by donations from Bullion Farm, Calderdale Long Distance Walkers and individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.