Shepherds' Rest: Elegant stile
It was a fine day, although wet underfoot, for Andrew and Frank H to carry out major work on a stile directly opposite the Shepherds' Rest Inn.
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| 1. Before: A very wobbly two-step stile! |
Start of session:
*Two collapsed steps because the legs are rotten.
*Left-hand side post is also rotten at the base and only held up by the cross-rail and the stock fencing!
*There is another cross-rail positioned above the one visible in the picture. It is rotten at one end and creates a very difficult leg lift for all but the most athletic of walkers. {The recommended distance between the top surface of the top step and the top of the highest top-rail is 450 mm (18")}.
Work in Progress:
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| 2. New step legs in place |
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| 3. Two new steps in place. |
The end product: A two-step stile
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| 4. Mmm! Very neat! |
Standard construction with:
*Top surface of first step ~ 300 mm above the ground.
*Top surface of second step ~ 300 mm above first step.
*Step legs in foreground cross-braced to enhance stability.
*Top of highest cross-rail ~ 450 mm above second step.
*Grab pole added to help balance of stile users
*All three cross-rails horizontal (and parallel!).
*Left-hand side post braced with a diagonal, because the top wire of fence had to be strained and stapled to this post.
* Some barbs taken off wall-side fence wire where they might be a snag hazard.
Although the day was fine it was chilly and the ground was very wet - a combination of melting snow and rain - so all the post holes partly filled with water. In these circumstances it is wise to use as much stone as possible for packing material - pounding wet clay is a futile exercise!!
We were happy with today's outcome. The stile is now secure, stable, safe and aesthetically pleasing. At some stage CROWS will strim the path (it runs parallel to the wall) to emphasise the line of this right-of-way.
Today's task was funded by individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.
