in the 1940s, a service trench had been excavated in the adjacent bellefield road by workmen, who revealed pieces of romano-british pottery. archaeologist a. eldridge published this discovery in the "archaeologia cantiana" journal, suggesting that there might have been a building dating to roman britain nearby. in the 1960s, local archaeologists decided to test this theory by investigating the derelict site at fordcroft following the demolition of the houses on that site. test excavation took place at the site from july 1965, sponsored by orpington museum, under the authority of the london borough of bromley, to whom the site legally belonged. the borough council provided a mechanical digger to remove surface rubble, allowing excavation to commence. much of the investigation was organised by m. bowen, curator of orpington museum, where the site finds were initially stored.