WAINSTALLS:- on the relay route!

 Wainstalls: Stile replacement.

On the Wainstalls to Castle Carr Road the Calderdale Way leads off over a stile and goes NE as right-of-way Halifax 135  (see map).

1 Map: The blue pin marks the worksite - luckily next to a road with ample parking!

The stile is on the route of the forthcoming Calderdale Way Relay Race and needs some attention before being climbed over by a stream of runners . . . all of whom will be in a hurry!

2. Original state of stile: picture taken earlier this year.

At first glance this stile seems to be in reasonable condition but closer investigation revealed defects in all but one of the timbers! The plan therefore was to carry out a complete replacement and also install a 'lift-type' dog-gate in the useful gap between the fence straining post and the left-hand stile post.

The Detail.

Andy, Kasher and Frank H had ideal conditions for working - it was sunny, but not too hot, and views were panoramic - all to a background soundtrack provided by curlew cries and the bleat of sheep. What's not to like? Well! . . . . . . 'deadmen'! They had been nailed into the lower ends of the side-posts which in turn were deeply embedded in a considerable amount of concrete! Mmm! It became a very physical sort of a day!

Here's how it went:

2. Out with the old: Cross-rails and steps removed
but concrete (lots of it) already encountered!

3. Post removal: One side-post out. Taller post
being attacked but we are well behind the clock!

4. In with the new: Short side-post in
place. New tall post being aligned with
the short post and the straining post.

5. Quality control: "Hurry up, guys! It's lunchtime already!"

6. Alignment is all! Position of step-legs
for this two-step stile being established.

7. Progress! Steps legs in place with cross-bracing
(just visible). Treadboards being attached.

8. Nearly there: Cross-rails nailed and trimmed to size.
Lift-type dog-gate fitted and waymarks (r-o-w;
 dogs on lead and Calderdale Way) attached.

9. End result: A two-step stile with dog-gate undergoing
 the pedestrian test. Did it pass? Never in doubt!

This was a difficult task. Removing large amounts of concrete, stubs of old posts and partly buried remnants of an even earlier fence took a disproportionate length of time and was particularly energy sapping. Fortunately, time was saved for us by the landowners who not only supplied a large amounts of packing stone and offered to dispose of the waste timbers, but also funded the work. Many thanks.