CRAGG VALE - Castle Gate Dam revisited

 Castle Gate Dam steps and footbridge

On a day that started wet but finished in sunshine Jerry, Andrew and Frank H worked in the area between the steps at New Bridge and the longer footbridge on the dam wall path.

There were two tasks:

1. Complete the re-build of the steps leading up to the road near New Bridge.

2. Create a smoother transition from one end of the path to where it meets the footbridge.

The work was done in the excitingly turbulent setting of Cragg Brook.

The work is being funded by HEC contractors, Cragg Vale Community Association, Hebden Royd Town Council, and a legacy from life-long rambler Gerald Hardwick. Many thanks.

The details

Task 1.

Jerry and Andrew (later joined by Frank) had an energetic day of replacing four old steps with six new ones and constructing revetment on the exposed side of the whole flight. Here's how the work progressed:

Before work began:

View up the flight of steps. The new-looking four are the ones Andrew and Paul installed a few weeks ago.

Preparatory work:

In grey, damp, slippery conditions old steps are being removed before the exact position of the replacement risers can be calculated.

Near the end of the session:

 i)

View up the new flight of steps which now have revetment installed on the exposed edge.

ii)

Better quality picture looking down the flight from the road. Neat steps, vertical risers, level tread areas, firm revetment and a graceful angle change at the halfway point. A skillful piece of work by Andrew and Jerry. Well done guys.

Task 2

Meanwhile Frank H was tackling the transition area between path and footbridge. Here's the situation.

Before:

It's hard to spot, but when moving from the path towards the footbridge there is a drop of about 250 mm into an uneven gap before the footbridge is reached. The plan was to box-in the sides of the gap with sections of rail then partly in-fill the cavity with rubble before topping and levelling it with aggregate. This sounds simple but it was a really finicky task requiring much swearing!

After:

Very tightly fitted side-rails, reasonable alignment, smooth transition and a significantly reduced chance of stumbling. Staples were also added to the cross-treads of the footbridge to improve underfoot grip in this scenic but wet location.

As a 'sign-off' for today we should mention that Ken, one of CROWS' construction experts, is now back from his working visit to relatives on the West coast of the USA. 

So, instead of 'California Dreamin', and with apologies to Lou Adler, Michelle Phillips and John Phillips who wrote the 1965 lyrics we have . . .

Calder Valley Dreamin' (you'll have to work out your own harmonies!)

All the moor is brown
And the sky is grey.

We've been out to check

A stile on the way.

As it's quite a wreck

Sheep are bound to stray.

Calder Valley nightmare

... on such a rainy day.

Stopping near some steps

Passed along the way,

We got down on our knees;

Did we need to pray!

The whole flight needs a re-build;

It's no time to play. 

Calder Valley nightmare

... on such a rainy day.

All the moor is brown
And the sky is grey.

We've replaced the lot

On such a rainy day;

Just to make them safe -

Come what may.

Calder Valley Dreamin'

... despite the rainy day.

Mmm! More next week - work that is, not parodies!