Lydgate: Steeps paths and a tricky stile
On a multi-working party day. Gareth, Dunstan and Frank H worked in ever-increasing heat to install a stile where the right-of-way (Todmorden 095) crosses a stock fence to drop down to Lydgate (see Map).
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| 1. Worksite marked with blue 'pin'. |
Fortunately, thanks to landowner's permission, we were able to get a vehicle with tools and materials reasonably near to the worksite thereby reducing the carrying distance across awkward slopes. Kasher, Neil Mc, Catherine and Andrew helped with load hauling before diverting to their own tasks. Phew! Thanks.
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| 2. Beasts of burden! . . . but well balanced. |
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| 3. Brew time . . . then it's off to our different tasks |
The detail.
The right-of-way is clearly signed but any trace of a previous stile had disappeared although the direction is marked with a r-o-w disk. The task therefore was to install a stile to get walkers safely across a well-installed and correctly-tensioned stock fence.
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| 4. Before: Lovely views . . . here's the stock fence . . . . . . but where's the stile! |
The plan was to make this virtually a one-step stile on the upslope side and a definite two-step on the downslope with the side-uprights being in the line and plane of the existing stock fence . . . all without removing any of the excellent fence. Here's how the job went:
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| 5. Short side-post hole: 750 mm depth. "Keep digging, Dunstan!" |
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| 6. Taller side-post hole: 900 mm depth. There's some lee-way, Gareth, if you hit bedrock! |
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| 7. Not a snooze: but a full-stretch excavation! |
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| 8. Step-leg hole: Heavy bar needed to break up the impacted rocky ground. |
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| 9. Cross-rails: Top and bottom cross-rails being fixed in place. |
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| 10. Fine adjustments: sizing-up the treadboard. |
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| 11. Nearly there. Another cross-rail and further treadboard adjustments. |
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| 12. Will it take a load? "Never in doubt" says Frank! |
The perspective is deceptive in the final picture. The ground slopes down towards and beyond the stile so walkers coming up hill have a 300 mm step-up on to the first treadboard then another 300 mm step-up onto the second treadboard before a 400 mm swing-of-the-leg over the top rail . . . just as recommended in 'British Standards for Stiles'.
Although working conditions were not ideal - rising temperatures, slippery slopes, hard impacted ground and a slight compromise of build to accommodate the alignment of the stock fencing - we were pleased with the end result. The stile is secure, stable and can certainly take an 85 kg load!
Today's work was paid for by Calderdale Highways. Many thanks.
