WADSWORTH

 Causey Stones, Steps and Cutting back in Wadsworth

Ginny, Kris, Nic and Paul, a team of four volunteers, were out today in various locations in the Wadsworth area. Ginny and Kris were focused on widening a path of causey stones at Pecket Bar, while Nic and Paul worked on three sites in the Old Town area; Dike Lane, Foot Kiln and Shawcroft. 

Causey Stones site in the larger red circle.

Pecket Bar / Akroyd Lane vicinity:

This path is situated in the triangle of land where Akroyd Lane meets the A6033 at Pecket Bar. It is a continuation of the Calderdale Way that comes up from Carr Lane to cross over the main road. This causey path was cleared of overgrown foliage some weeks ago by CROWS volunteers. Today's task was to widen the path to reveal the full extent of the causeway and to repair damaged stone steps at the top end.

This work funded by Calderdale Highways. Thank you.

Ginny and Kris did some sterling work widening the path removing stubborn embedded clumps of grass and invasive shrubbery

Widened path

The width of the large causey stones was quite remarkable and a reminder that it was part the packhorse route up from Carr Lane.

Looking uphill - a work in progress!

Dike Lane, Foot Kiln and Shawcroft work

Meanwhile, Nic and Paul were working elsewhere on three different sites to finish-off some earlier work. 

Two of the sites identified by red circles

This work was funded by Wadsworth Parish Council - a big thank you!

The first site was on Dike Lane (Wadsworth 061) near Clayton Farm. Today's task was to finish off the boardwalk installed last Wednesday. Two kickboards were nailed on each end of the boardwalk and the cross-treads were stapled. In addition we cut back encroaching foliage from over the drainage channel.

Nic hammering in the staples

The second job was finishing off some cutting back on field paths (Wadsworth 076) that connected with the ginnel that runs at the back of Foot Kiln near Chiserley. 

A wee bit overgrown!

The use of a battery operated grass cutter made short work of clearing this section, followed by a nice 'shear' trim.

Nicely trimmed back!

The third task was to replace a rotted step on the Calderdale Way path (Wadsworth 053) that meanders uphill from Shawcroft Cottages. The rotted riser and stobs were removed and a new riser installed fixed into place with two new stobs.

new step installed!

It was lunchtime when Nic and Paul joined up with Ginny and Kris at Pecket Bar. After some well-earned sarnies and flasks of tea, Kris, Nic and Paul set about sorting out the stone steps at the top end of the path, while Ginny continued revealing more of the causey stones.

A large heavy rectangular shaped stone step had become loose and had rolled out of position. This had loosened other smaller stones damaging a major section of the flight of steps. With a bit of hard graft and manipulation, the main lintel shaped stone was positioned securely and we could then rebuild the other steps.

Stone steps repositioned and secure!

Overall it was a good day's work finishing off some tasks in the Old Town area and widening an old causey path at Pecket Well. Well done team!