TODMORDEN: Flailcroft Farm

 Flailcroft Farm: Stile repair

A cold, frosty day in which the temperature barely crept above 0 oC, for Ian V and Frank H to work just below Flailcroft Farm. However, despite the cold it was blue-skied and sunny with excellent views across the valley. 

Here's the location:

1.  Flailcroft; Above Scaitcliffe Wood
on footpath Todmorden 082.

Here's the problem:

2. A one step stile that seems to
be in fair condition, but . . . .  

3. . . . rot in the step leg . . .  and

4. . . .  rot in another step leg from
which the treadboard is missing.

This was the plan:

*Remove the existing treadboard and step-legs.

*Make the stile a 'one-step' on the up-slope side but a 'two-step' on the down-slope side.

*Add a grab post to enhance balance.

*Landscape the approach on the down-slope side

Here's the progress:

5. The most arduous task. Digging-out
the very deeply and very firmly
embedded step-leg.

6. New step-legs in place.
Vertical with a level top?
Never in doubt!

7. Down-slope view

The finished job:

The old stile was very well built. The step legs were deeply buried and very firmly packed - a tribute to the skills of the original workforce.

Non-the-less, although rot had taken its toll, a lot of heavy duty digging and barring was needed to extract the remnants! The temperature might have been low but we soon had to shed a layer or two!

With a grab post installed and staples added to improve grip on the treadboard, this is now a safe and secure structure on this interesting path that leads up from (or down to) Scaitcliffe Wood.

Today's work has been funded by a donation in memory of  Robert Harker who was a keen walker and a lover of the countryside. Many thanks.