Friday, 11 April 2025

TODMORDEN - New PRoW off Pudsey Rd, Cornholme (Session 6)

Cornholme - another day on the contour line!

 On a very warm sunlit day a team of five CROWS formed yet another work party for the new PRoW (Todmorden 216) that runs from Pudsey Road to the covered reservoir above Shore New Road.

The team of Mick, RJ, David, Frank H and Kasher installed more sections of revetment and cut-back and widened the path which curves around the hillside.

This will be our final session of working on the revetments. We will be back to put in marker posts and possibly remove the plastic guards from some of the well-established trees that are on the hillside above the path and below the recently built boardwalks near Obadiah Wood.

The original, somewhat precarious, path was used extensively by dog walkers so we hope that both canines and their human companion (and all other users) enjoy the safer, stabilised and newly widened route.

The work on this new right-of-way has been funded by Active Calderdale. Many thanks.

We would also like to thank the resident at the end of Pudsey Road who has allowed us to store the timbers for this work in his yard.


1. Map: The location of the new PRoW in Cornholme.


2. Before i: the route was narrow, often indistinct and
had steep drops down towards the railway line.

3. Before ii: The original path - one slip and it's
downhill all the way through bramble and heather.


4. Inserting revetment: a 'link' section being
installed. Are those joints tight? . . .
. . .  you bet they are!


5. Heavy hammering: Frank H  making a pilot hole
for one of the stobs that anchors the revetment board.


6. The long view: A straight run of revetment becoming
a graceful(ish) curve to negotiate awkward rising ground.

7. Tamping and stamping: RJ on the widened path
possibly performing the CROWS rain dance!


8. Final section: Frank H and Kasher installing the
last piece of revetment on a tricky collapsing edge.


9. Last minute tweaks: Frank H tidying edges. Are
Mick and RJ on quality control duties? . . . 


. . . apparently not because here she is again! It's
our frequent quality control expert - Elsie the
Lakeland Terrier-Collie cross with her eye on
something in the distance . . . probably food!

Today was blue-skied, warm and very energy-sapping but we were well-pleased with our efforts. Inserting 'link' pieces of revetment between existing sections - mainly to secure an edge but partly for aesthetic reasons - can be tricky, especially when revetment ends have to be cut to cope with angle changes and simultaneously compensate for change in gradient! . . . however, we impressed even ourselves with the tightness of fit achieved!

This new contouring path requires further footfall and perhaps some heavy rain for it to 'settle down'. We'll then review the condition of the surface and decide if any remedial action is needed.