Popples Close - stiles, tea and 'donuts'!
On a fine but misty day, Steve and Frank H worked on a boundary stile(s) that gave access to open moorland, via footpath Heptonstall 017, just above Popples Close.
The work was funded by general donations to CROWS. Many thanks.
Thanks too to a local resident who not only allowed us to park close to the job but also plied us with tea and 'donuts' - the latter with a custard filling. Hooray!
The Detail
Picture 1 shows the state of the stile prior to any repair and stabilising work.
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| Picture 1 |
The full scale of the problem is difficult to spot. This is a double stile with one section going over a semi-collapsed drystone wall and second section negotiating a good quality stock fence. These are the issues:
i) The first stile (in the foreground) has missing cross-rails, a loose right-hand post and a top rail that is too high.
ii) The second stile over the stock fence (difficult to spot) has been butt-joined to the foreground stile but is out of alignment. The top wires of the stock fence are too high above the stile treadboard and the only 'grab' post is so loosely embedded that it has moved out of position.
iii) Both stiles are partly overgrown, have a slippery surface and damaged or faded waymarks.
Here's Plan A:
Cut back encroaching growth; firm up the stile's right-hand post; install three cross-rails at appropriate heights; add a continuous length of treadboard on top of the existing boards to reduce the step-over heights; add two support posts to the stock fence - one of which doubles as a 'grab' post; diagonally brace this 'grab' post; fix side-rails between the two stiles to provide additional bracing; nail staples to the new treadboard to enhance grip; fit a grab post to the foreground stile; stabilise the stonework and add waymarks. Phew!
It is often said "no plan survives first contact with the 'enemy'." Amazingly, in this case, Plan A not only worked but it worked well!
Here is the evidence:
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| Picture 2: Foreground stile all firmed-up with three cross-rails and a full-length treadboard. 'Grab' post being hammered into position. |
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| Picture 3: End of session (nearly): view towards open access. |
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| Picture 4: End of session (nearly): view from the moor showing side-rails and the braced grab' post. |
Overall we were pleased with the outcome. This double stile is now much easier to negotiate and provides a safe, clearly-marked route for walkers.
