The complex reconstruction work to the flight of steps above White Wells on Ilkley Moor, has been completed by The Friends of Ilkley Moor volunteers.
Known locally as ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, this is the steepest section of an ancient route across the moor used by traders with packhorses, as it descends from the moor tops to the outskirts of Ilkley.
Well-used by walkers and runners, it had fallen into a state of disrepair since little work had been done on the path since Victorian times.
Between 10 and 15 volunteers from the Working Party of the Friends of Ilkley Moor worked on the upgrade for 8 consecutive Tuesdays, starting in mid-June – reckoned to be around 250 hours of labour in total. The result is a flight of 120 steps constructed from either existing stones that needed re-positioning, or new steps with timber rises and finished with rock and hardcore gravel, all of which had to be carried up the hill. The work involved The Friends of Ilkley Moor volunteers carrying several tons of hardcore up the steps in buckets.
Richard Perham, the Countryside Officer from BMDC, said: ‘It’s been great working with the volunteers on this project. It was planned and designed by them and has been a catalyst to get the steps repaired. It looked like a daunting task, but the skill and hard work of the group has created a much safer and easier-to-use flight of steps on this right of way across the moor.’
Owen Wells, Chair of The Friends of Ilkley Moor said: “For many years we have wanted to repair these steps, but the work always appeared too difficult. Now, because we have an exceptionally keen and skilled team of volunteers it has become possible. Walkers, for years to come, will be indebted to our volunteers for repairing one of the most used paths onto the Moor,”
The Friends of Ilkley Moor has received grant support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help fund this work. Made possible by National Lottery players.