during world war ii, fritchley tunnel was used as an air raid shelter. the tunnel was sealed up in 1977, and by 1989 both entrances were buried. it was temporarily uncovered during archaeological work on the butterley gangroad by derbyshire archaeological society in february 2013. in february 2015, the tunnel was designated a scheduled monument under the ancient monuments and archaeological areas act 1979. the designation states that the tunnel is "recognised as the earliest surviving railway tunnel in the world and an important representation of tunnel engineering at this time."