MIDGLEY: A double act on double stiles

 Midgley: New Heath Head

On a day when the temperature rose steadily into the low 30oC, Ian S and Frank carried out significant remedial work to the two stiles where the right-of-way (Sowerby Bridge 018) runs NW/SE across the access lane to New Heath Head. (see map)

1. Worksites marked with blue 'pin'.

This well-used path has stiles on either side of the lane leading to New Heath Head. 

The NW stile:

The stile on the NW side had three rotten step-legs, very narrow flimsy treadboards and an extremely high top rail. Negotiating the latter was made even more awkward because it was part of fence railing which had been installed parallel to the sloping ground - a visually pleasing effect but less convenient for stile users!

Although nothing could be done about the slope of the top rail, effective remedial work could be carried out by installing new step-legs, adjusting the step heights and replacing both treadboards. Digging out the 'stumps' of the old legs was a particularly arduous task as the residual timber was firmly buried into the extremely hard ground.

Work progressed  as follows:

2. Digging out: "Is this a stump I see before me?"

3. Success: Rotten stumps all round!

4. New step-legs: In place with cross-bracing.

5. View from Lane side: New treadboards in place.

6. View from Field side: but will it take a load?

7. . .  . never in doubt. Not a creak from the 
stile . . . which is more than can
be said about Frank!

The SE Stile:

After lunch and the consumption of  two flasks of iced water (many thanks to New Heath Head), a similar battle was waged against the SE one-step stile. 

8. Before: One weak step and a
far-too-high top rail!

Fortunately, the ground conditions were more amenable and a second (higher) step was installed to make this stile easier to negotiate. The original lower step was left in place but has been 'earmarked' for replacement.

9. View from Lane side: Work so far . . .

10. View from Field side: work so far . . .

The lower step is too narrow and has rot in one of the legs, It will be replaced. As well as the stile repair, we cut back encroaching Hawthorn bushes and tidied the approaches to the stiles. 

Time, then, to drink more water, beat a retreat to the depot, sort out the tools, put the battery on charge, then go home to observe (safely) the partial solar eclipse . . . 

11. Partial solar eclipse

and (for those who can stay up that late) to enjoy the Perseid meteor shower!

12. Perseid meteor shower

Today's work was funded by Midgley Community Forum. Many thanks for your support.

More in a week or so when we'll be 'nose to the ground' rather than 'eyes to the heavens'!