I get to work in some of the most beautiful places and am currently building a new oak footbridge at Padley Gorge on the National Trust Longshaw Estate on the moors just outside Sheffield.
The bridge was commissioned in memory of Arthur Haslam so Barn carved his initials. I have a real dislike for brass plaques on memorials, carved initials are so much nicer.
The dappled sunlight coming through the autumn leaves was just beautiful.
We scorch the parts of the bridge which will contact the ground and melt wax into the scorched area, this stops water getting into the wood and greatly prolongs the bridges life. Having worked in the countryside for many years and taken down many old bridges, fences and gateposts I know where things fail and it is at the joints and particularly the few inches above and below ground. We designed the contact points with the ground to shed water too, it’s a lot of attention to minor detail and no one will know the difference but to me it matters whether this bridge lasts for 15 or 30 years.
Winching the main beam across the brook. One winch to pull and another to stop it sliding too far. Sophie is a volunteer for the National Trust and helped out.
A brief but well earned rest.
And this is how it looks at the moment. Handrails will go on next week all being well. I took Barn off to the motorway yesterday and he hitched off toward Bristol, we have had a great 2 weeks together and I have no doubt we will meet up plenty in the future.
Now I have preparations for a bowl carving course starting tomorrow and running over the weekend.
I imagine a meeting of Robin Hood and Little John on such a bridge.
Looks more like Friar Tuck sat on the bridge 😉 But what a great project to work on and legacy to leave behind.
Steady now Rich, you know Barn will probably read the blog when he gets back online. Now the real Little John bridge was the one I made last year over "Hood brook" at Hathersage, where little John is allegedly buried.http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-post.html
Lovely little bridge. Do you ever manage to get back to them a couple of years on? Would be interesting to see some photos when they are all moss covered and Hobbity if you see what I mean.
Arthur is my uncle – can you give me precise directions so I can take a walk there and remember him as I walk please? I live in Sheffield.Kate
Hello Kate,Take the road down from Longshaw toward Grindleford, 400 yeards past Longshaw there are normally cars parked on the right, just before you go into the trees. Park there walk down to the stream and go down stream 100 yards. It isn't finished yet still needs a bit more carving and sanding.Robin