The excavations were located within the Dam Banks area of Moor Pond Wood, Papplewick, 100m east of Moor Road, and 300m south of Linby Lane. Excavations consisted of 4 trenches situated at the southernmost point of a subsidiary pond near to Dam Banks South Sluice in order to establish the link between this pond anf the trough spanning the width of the sluice and running into the leat. Excavations revealed the even sloping base of the pond, and evidence for at least two attempts to build up the banks on either side of the pond. These construction events coincide with a build up of silt on the base of the pond, possibly due to a lack of use once the cotton mills went out of use in the 1830's when the mills were closed by Hopper, Glover & Co. After this time, Top Mill was retained as a corn mill, and the site may have been maintained to prevent flooding problems. A potential ditch and a posthole were revealed in section, which might relate to the funnelling of water to a trough which spanned the width of the south sluice, however, this interpretation remains speculative.