Golden Stones access stile
A section of the right-of-way Todmorden 045 leads due South from near Bridestones Farm. 300 m below Bridestones a stile gives access towards Golden Stones. (see map).
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| 1. Approximate location of access stile |
The task for Kasher, Dunstan (on his second CROWS session) and Frank H was to widen and re-stabilise the two-step access stile. Conditions were warm (26oC) but idyllic . . . blue sky, light winds and panoramic views with meadow pipits (nearby) and a cuckoo (more distant) announcing their presence.
The original stile looked like this:
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| 2. Down-slope view in winter: Not all is as sturdy as it appears! |
The right-hand side (shorter) upright and all the step-legs are sound but both treadboards, the left-hand side (taller) upright and parts of the cross-rails are decayed.
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| 3. Left-hand side post; Rotten to the point of collapse - which is what it did! |
The plan was to:
i. Replace the treadboards and cross-brace the legs.
ii. Stabilise, straighten and diagonally brace the shorter side-post.
iii. Replace the taller side-post.
iv) Re-align, re-staple and re-tension the stockfence and both barbed-wire strands.
v) Install 5 parallel cross-rails
The following pictures are all upslope views.
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| 4. New treadboards: Fixed on old legs but now cross-braced. |
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| 5. Gang of three looking busy: Frank H, Kasher and Dunstan |
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| 6. Positioning: Taller post is a work in progress. |
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| 7. Alignment and packing: Taller post now in position . . . and vertical. |
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| 8. A study in concentration?: Stockfence adjustment. |
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| 9. Completed structure: Kasher, Ian V (on loan from adjacent task) and Dunstan. |
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| 10. Stress test: Will it take a load? . . . 85 kg - so far so good! |
The task wasn't without typical stile building problems - rocky ground; old structures immovably out of true; wet post-holes; exposed barbs and sloping ground - but nothing that careful planning and a muscular approach couldn't overcome.
The result is a secure, stable, two-step stile which is easily negotiated. The latter was demonstrated by a runner descending from Golden Stones. He was over the stile before our cameras could say 'click'.
Today's work was funded by Todmorden Wind Farm through CFFC (Community Foundation For Calderdale). Many thanks.
