Ramsden Clough: Out with the footbridge team again!
On a misty, early-winter day a large group of CROWS worked in ideal conditions to replace a heavily decayed footbridge (on Todmorden 133) that crosses the stream just above the weir in Ramsden Clough (see map).
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| Map 1: The blue 'tag' marks the spot! |
This work was funded by Calderdale Council Highways. Many thanks.
The detail:
Preliminaries:
At first glance this much-repaired footbridge seems to be in adequate condition:
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| Picture 1: What's not to like? . . . |
Mmm! . . . half of the handrail is missing and the other half is sagging outwards. This suggests all may not be well with the stringers (the main beams that support the walkway). A closer examination revealed:
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| Picture 2: Example of the extensive rot in the downstream stringer. |
Rot of this type appeared in many places along this stringer. During the final stages of
dismantling, the stringer collapsed under its own weight! The upstream stringer, although in better overall condition, was similarly affected.
The work begins:
CALVAG delivered a mountain of timber - stringers, noggins, cross-treads, trims, handrail posts, side rails and bracing rails- as well as numerous bags of tools, drills and fittings.
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| Picture 3: A small sample of the materials delivered to the fish pond on Ramsden Lane. It's a carrying job from there! |
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| Picture 4: Old cross-treads being removed. Time to get off guys before you weaken the structure any further! |
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| Picture 5: Old approach boardwalk (in much better condition than it looks) and old stringers (in very much worse condition than they look! |
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| Picture 6: Old cross-treads being de-nailed. The better ones may be re-usable. |
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| Picture 7: Meanwhile . . . the handrail posts are being double-bolted to one of the stringers. |
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| Picture 8: Handrail stringer in place. Middle stringer being lifted into position. |
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| Picture 9: Third stringer being positioned. Yes! It's a three-stringer footbridge! |
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| Picture 10: Noggins (the cross-bracing pieces) all in place. The bridge is now a strong and rigid structure. |
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| Picture 11: New cross-treads being nailed in position. |
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| Picture 12: The completed structure with upstream edge-trim, handrails, anchoring brackets, stapled cross-treads and diagonal bracing. |
But is the bridge stable? . . . and will it take a load? . . .
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| Picture 13: . . . never in doubt. There's about half a tonne of volunteers here - obviously too many pies at lunchtime. |
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| Picture 14: . . . and it's also dog friendly! |
Footbridge construction can be fraught with technical problems and irritating minor glitches. Thankfully, today's task went very smoothly indeed. All pre-drilled and pre-cut timbers fitted exactly and, despite the cramped working space, the team managed not to knock anyone into the stream or over the weir! We had the job finished by 1.30! Phew! - this might be a CROWS record for a footbridge of this size.
One or two items may need further attention - there is some scrap timber to deal with and the approach boardwalk may need replacing next year - but for now this footbridge ticks all the boxes of being safe, secure, stable, durable and aesthetically pleasing.
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As we move into Advent and another year closes, it's perhaps time to reflect on CROWS work over the last 12 months. What better than a parody . . . Mmm!
WE THREE CROWS!
(Any resemblance to 'We Three Kings', that well-known carol written in the mid 19th century by John H Hopkins (1820-1891) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is purely coincidental!)
We three CROWS of Calderdale are,
Bearing tools we traverse afar;
Field and woodland
Moor and bog land,
Wondering where we are!
Chorus:. . .
O map of wonder, colours bright;
Map with contours not quite right;
Compass leading - wayward reading;
Getting lost always our plight!
Out from Tod on moorland again
Posts we bring to make the way plain;
Pointing Westward,
Sometimes Upward;
For-us, it's all the same!
Chorus: . . .
Wobbly stiles to offer have I,
Both the steps being too high!
Shin-bones grazing,
Blisters raising
Making the walk-ers cry.
Chorus: . . .
Steps are mine,
Their shaky old wood . . . hints
Decay of no thing good
Sagging, settling, crumbling, creaking
Stuck to the bank with mud!
Chorus: . . .
O map of wonder, colours bright;
Map with contours not quite right;
Compass leading - wayward reading;
Getting lost always our plight!
More next week. Jobs that is, not doggerel!
