1. As any horse rider will confirm gates of any type are an unavoidable nuisance, simply because not only do they obstruct the way but because even if they are hung properly in the first instance, they too often do not stay like it for very long.

2. Either the fastenings are too low to reach or when the gate drops, they stick on the catch, or sometimes they are hung so low there is insufficient ground clearance. Some are self-closing which means they very often slap the horse’s backside as it passes through if it hasn’t already been the cause of bumped or scraped knees of the riders on the gate posts as they try and avoid the problem. Others used to be so heavy that one would have to dismount to move them and then only with great difficulty as they were relics made in the days of iron.
   Not easy at the best of times becomes almost impossible when using only one hand with reins in the other.

3. As you will have read, five gates had to be negotiated on Broxhead Common BW47, after the 1973 diversion and have proved to be a perennial problem ever since as recorded from time to time in the Headley Parish Council minutes. (Part 69 of this series).
   1977 Headley PC 27.7.77 4 GATES ON BW47
   30.10.78 BW 47 gates

4. Apart from those there were the gates at either end of the path around the Free Piece. These fell into the twelve-foot wide, too heavy and badly hung category. More often than not they would be left open because the path was fenced on either side however, these were permanently locked in 1988. (Part 102 this series)

5. But apart from these there were another four. One at each end of BW4 or BW 54 as the northern end was to become and two in the middle.

Next time: Continuing the gates on Broxhead Common.

All 'TCHCC' Parts so far