WADSWORTH: below Fearney Fields

 Wadsworth: tough going on a tough stile!

On a cloudy but calm day Jan, Paul and Frank H tackled a particularly awkward stile that was ~100 m up the narrow path that goes from Hurst Road in the direction of Fearney Fields (see map).

1. Worksite: the blue 'tag' marks the spot

The cost of materials for today's work was covered by the landowner and other incidentals were funded by general donations to CROWS. Many thanks.

The Detail.

2. Before: Many a hidden problem!

Picture 2 shows the original stile. Although it appears to be in satisfactory condition, problems are significant. Both stile side-posts are rotten; one so completely that it is only held in place by the good quality stockfence! Of the three step legs that support the narrow treadboard only one is actually in the ground and the high sloping top rail makes negotiation of this stile an interesting combination of balance, co-ordination and not falling over!

The plan was to completely replace this one-step stile but with deeper side-post holes, deeper step-leg holes, repositioned cross-rails and re-adjusted/re-tensioned stockfence. 

The backbreaking work begins!

3. Old timbers removed: post holes being excavated
with some difficulty! It'll be a tight fit.

4. Slow progress: Compacted, stony
ground needs to be broken up.

A few hours later:

Side-uprights are in place. The upper cross-rail is in its lowered position. The stockfence has been re-attached using the economical 'one staple, wrap-around and twist' technique. The step-legs holes have been excavated and fine-tuning of leg and treadboard positions is underway.

5. Height adjustment: "It's either one end up . . .
. . . or one end down . . . or both!

6. End result: A neat, secure, stable one-step stile.

7. CROWS at large: two thirds of a weary work trio!

In addition we improved the siderails to the left of the stile, restrung the barbed wire so barbs were not near the right-hand side-post and did some temporary cross-rail repairs to another stile 200 m to the SE. Phew! A long session.

Many thanks to the nearby householder who gave permission for parking and thanks also to the surprising number of pedestrians, runners and dog walkers for their kind and supportive comments.

A dog-gate could be fitted to this stile. Discussions are in progress.