Jerusalem Hill, Yoxall

Jerusalem Hill, Yoxall 06.08.06

We spent two task-days constructing a flight of 25 steps and a handrail, which will allow easy access from a public footpath up to a viewpoint on a hill known locally as Jerusalem Hill, which is situated near Bond End on the edge of the village of Yoxall. The steps will benefit not only the walkers using the footpath - who will have the option of a short detour to a very pleasant viewing point that they would otherwise have missed – but also the local parishioners who have an annual tradition of an Easter service on top of the hill. In order to get there up to now, they have had to negotiate a steep grassy slope and then climb over a wooden fence, so the steps will hopefully make access a whole lot easier for them. By the end of the second session, we had installed all of the steps and retaining posts, and part of the side-boarding – not a bad effort for a sweltering day, particularly in the full heat of the sun at the top of the steps. We also completed all but one or two of the handrail posts, and some sections of the handrail itself. The steps will eventually be filled with stone. We finished the day by building a V-shaped gap-stile at the top of the steps. The plan is for a new fence to be built across the corner of the field, incorporating the new stile. This will then allow the existing fence – in an awkward position half-way up the flight of steps – to be removed. UPDATE 12.08.06: The stone was delivered during the week. An extra half-day's session saw the steps and rail completed, and the steps filled in with stone. UPDATE April 2007: We have had some feedback that the steps were very much appreciated by all who made the Good Friday “pilgrimage”, especially those who are not so young. Congratulations to the Volunteers from the Rector et al.