The results of the evaluation confirm, as expected, the remains of the sandstone bed of the horse-drawn railway line that ran through the site in the early 19th century. Contained within a construction trench with flanking gullies that were probably to assist in drainage and stability of the track, the sandstone gravel is consistently present across the three interventions, possibly showing evidence of erosion and displacement of the gravels during its use or perhaps the gravels were robbed out for a later use; for example as part of the altered railway line along the eastern site boundary in the mid 19th century. Although no dating has been recovered, the position, alignment and characteristics of this feature correspond with the known position of the extinct railway.

The line was discovered within three evaluation trenches.

The first trench uncovered a wide linear feature, measuring nearly 11.50m across. Within this was a layer of compacted stone rubble mainly white / light yellow brown sandstone fragments that spread over c.10.5m and was around 0.15m thick, with shallow gullies on either side that appeared to be filled with subsoil.

Another trench encountered the same linear feature, which was recorded as a shallow, 11m wide construction cut. It contained sandstone fragment deposits, both consistent with what was found in the first trench. These two areas of stone were separated down the middle but had the same characteristics, suggesting some of the stone had been robbed out / eroded from the centre line or has otherwise been spread deliberately in parallel lines. On the outside edges of the feature there were shallow depressions – gullies as seen in the first trench.

In the last trench, at the northwest end, the east edge of the railway bed construction cut and sandstone foundation was uncovered. Approximately 5m of the feature was exposed with the western half lying beyond the trench, therefore a full profile across the feature was not possible.

A. Lane, 2022, Land north of The Mill Adventure Base, Sutton in Ashfield: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SNT5535.