I visited a different area of Stainton beck that only shows the red clay deposit that usually sits well above the gravel beds, and found quite a lot of mineralised bone buried in the stoneless clay.
I decided to do a small excavation and was surprised to find what appeared to be a small road, pathway? made from mostly whinstone ( basaltic andesite) from the Cleveland dyke at this location.
If ime right and i think i am this structure at least pre dates the old Thornton hall as the path or road would have had to pass through the old hall garden walls and they are still there, and there is no gateway.
Also there was no steel or iron to be found in the wood nore any pottery, or brick the ends of the wood have been chopped away not sawn.