A team of four (David, Jan, Kasher and RJ) returned to Greenhurst Hey Clough to install a bridge over the clough. We had been told that there was initially a stone bridge here but it was washed away in the 'Boxing Day' floods. We have now installed a wooden bridge and hope that this is raised sufficiently to allow it to weather "normal" winter floods . . . we shall see!
The timbers had been carried across the fields yesterday to within one field of the worksite. Many thanks to the residents of West Hey Head Farm for helping with this. With the timber nearly on site, it did not take too long (or too many trips) to get all timber and tools down to the clough.
The stringers, the bearers, the kickboards and cross-treads etc had been prepared by the CROWS team in the depot. This made life so much easier for the team installing the bridge. Thank you!
The bridge went in without too many hitches. We have anchored the bridge to both banks with long stobs to keep it in place should there be a significant rise of water level. We have also installed central anchoring poles to eliminate 'bridge-bounce' when it is crossed.
The last (and least favourite) job of the day was (as usual) adding staples to the bridge to improve underfoot grip. We will, however, return later in the week to improve access to the bridge on both banks but especially by constructing a couple of steps on the east bank of the clough.
We have now way-marked the route from the worksite to West Hey Head Farm, through a series of pedestrian gates. We have also cleared the path below some recently installed steps although the latter will need a little more in-filling.
Many thanks to Todmorden Town Council for funding today's work. Your continuing support is much appreciated.
We would also like to extend our thanks to the residents of West Hey Head Farm for allowing us to park in their yard (again) and thus make the carrying of timber and tools to the site so much easier.
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| The blue "pin" marks the location of today's worksite. |
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| RJ starting to get the 4.8 m stringers into position. |
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| Fixing the noggins between the two stringers. |
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| RJ and Jan. Noggins (the strengthening pieces between the two stringers) are in position. The supporting stobs are now being hammered into the clough. |
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| David positioning and attaching the cross-treads. |
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| RJ, Jan and David on the nearly completed bridge. |
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| That's a long bridge that now needs staples . . . |
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| Staples being added . . note the range of techniques! |
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| RJ moving a large stone off the path. We will be installing a step here. Note the cut timbers of a tree removed from the path a few months ago. |
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| RJ and the completed bridge. |
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| It was a beautiful place to work: dappled light, lots of birds, the sound of water in the clough . . . what's not to like? |
