[1] The rear of the property was originally partially excavated during the 1970s, when a cobblestoned surface and a stone corner watchtower were discovered; it was then covered with a plastic sheet in an attempt to preserve them.

[3][4] The home's owner at the time was Jim Ridge,[1][5] the honorary curator of the village's Roman museum, in whose honour a gallery is named.

[6] Having lived in the cottage since 1977, he knew when he purchased the property that there was part of the fort there, so he wrote to Time Team informing them of its substantial remnants.

[3] Phil Harding undertook Time Team's excavation, during which evidence was discovered of a wooden watchtower, pre-dating the stone structure.

[1] In all, 22 artefacts (or fragments thereof) were recovered during the investigation, split between Romano-British pottery and more modern material.